DVD Review: Blood Diamond (Two-disc Special Edition)

Blood Diamond (Two-disc special edition)
Warner Home Entertainment

Sierra Leone has known more than it’s fair share of tragedy. It is the region’s seemingly unending pain that is at the center of Blood Diamond. Directed by Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, BD is an action film set in the brutal world of diamond mining. The mining is often done by forced labor, with the money going to fund war. Hence the term “Blood Diamond”.

The story centers on three people: Archer (DiCaprio), a Diamond Smuggler looking to get out of Africa, Maddy Bowen (Connelly), an idealistic reporter looking to tell the world about the blood diamond trade, and Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a local fisherman whose family has been taken away from him.

The paths of these cross and become intertwined. Solomon has hidden a rare pink diamond, but the only thing he really wants is to be reunited with his family. Archer wants this rare treasure and is willing to help Solomon find his family in exchange for said bauble. Maddy wants to report the truth and sees the stories of Archer and Solomon has a chance to do so.

Blood Diamond is a fast paced, thought provoking film that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Some of the action is graphic, so this might not be for the faint of heart. Thought over the top and , at times, uneven, this is good movie that will leave many of it’s viewers thinking a little more about a time and place that might not otherwise enter their consciousness.

The film is available both in separate one and two-disc editions. I strongly recommend the two-disc set as it offers a look into the war and diamond trade, as well as giving us a look into the making of the film.

Jeremy

Click here to purchase Blood Diamond from Amazon.

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DVD review: Miami Vice Seasons Three and Four

MIAMI VICE Season 3 and 4
Universal

Most people reading Crimespree have heard of Miami Vice, and most likely watched it. I find the show completely entertaining. And while parts of it are rooted deep in the eighties, I think a good deal of the show still holds up well. Because what really makes the show work was the attitudes. By season three and four all the actors were comfortable in their roles, and I have to say, LT. Castillo is still one of the coolest cops ever. The show was also getting great ratings, which meant that they continued to get great music and amazing guest stars. James Brown, Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Willie Nelson Benico Del Toro were all on Miami Vice. Plus many actors who went on to become stars later.

Season three was a particular favorite of mine because I love the episode Michael Mann used as a practice run for Manhunter having Sonny get in the head of a serial killer. It also has the episode El Viejo with Willie Nelson as a retired Texas Ranger out to avenge the son of his partner. Season three also saw one of the cast killed off, pretty innovative ate the time.
While this may not be as powerful as West Wing, or as intense as The Shield or The Wire, it is damn good entertainment, and it is still entertaining 20 years later.
Jon

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DVD Review: Rocky Balboa

When it was announced that Sylvester Stallone was going to make a sixth Rocky film, many rolled their eyes. The fifth and “final chapter” in the Rocky series left a pretty bad taste in the mouths of even the biggest fans of the Italian Stallion.Well Mr. Stallone has proved everybody wrong and, in the process, wrapped up the story of one of the more iconic characters in American Cinema.

At the start of this film, we find Rocky living in the past. His wife has passed away and his relationship with his son is strained. He spends his time telling boxing tales at his restaurant.

When a computer simulation suggests that Rocky (In his prime) would beat the current champ, the wheels are set in motion for the aging hero return to that which made him a legend.

Stallone’s situation is not that different from that of his character. The majority of his box office success, and virtually all of his critical success, came from the Rocky series. Not only has he returned to the character, but to the very core of what made the original great. Virtually all of the sequels gave us great action and drama, but Rocky Balboa gives us more. It gives us the heart and soul of a character that became a national icon.

Is Rocky Balboa a great film? Not really, but is a film that clearly was made with love and passion. Those characteristics come across on the screen and make this solid film something special.

For extras, we have a very interesting, and enlightening, commentary by Stallone. This commentary will be really enjoyed by long-time fans of the series, as Stallone talks about his journey through the series. I must mention that Stallone says some things that suggest that a director’s cut might eventually be made available.

Also included are a number of deleted scenes including an alternate ending .These scenes are generally give us a little more insight into the characters. The scene where Paulie breaks down is outstanding. I wish it had made the final cut.

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Vote for Veronica Mars in E's Save One Show poll.

E!Online has put up their annual Save One Show poll. According to them, the five of the last six winners were renewed. So this is your chance to lend your support to Veronica Mars (or any other show that you want to return).

As was mentioned here previously, Veronica Mars is in serious danger of being cancelled. Creator Rob Thomas has come up with a new concept for the show in hopes of saving it. The idea being to jump forward a few years with Veronica being fresh out of the FBI academy.

Mars is an amazing show, so let your voice be heard!

Click here to go to the poll.

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Forrest Whitaker set to join Reeves in The Night Watchman.

Oscar-winner Forrest Whitaker(Last King of Scotland) will apparently join Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Scanner Darkly) in The Night Watchman.

Reeves is a member of an elite unit of LAPD cops called Ad/Vice. Ad/Vice used ruthless, and often brutal, tactics to do their job.

After his life falls apart with the death of his wife, he starts to question whether the end justifies the means.

Whitaker is to play the captain of the unit, who is also a mentor to Reeves.

When Whitaker's character is implicated in the death of another officer, Reeves takes a stand against his longtime mentor and his former partners.

The Night Watchman is based on an original idea by author James Elroy (L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia). Ellroy wrote the original draft some years ago.

Click here to read our previous story about the project.

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Cagney & Lacey season one will indeed be releasd on May 8th.

Last Wednesday, I posted that the DVD release of Cagney & Lacey season one had been pushed back.

In the last day or two, various sites have reported that Cagney & Lacey season one would be coming out on May 8th.
The former producer Barney Rosenzweig announced it on his blog.

While I had no doubt he was correct, I waited until I heard back from MGM/Fox. This afternoon I did indeed get word that this is the case.

Cagney & Lacey Season One is now again listed as coming out on May 8th on the DVD Calendar.
May 8th will be a huge day for DVD releases as there are also new editions of Bridge on the River Kwai, The Caine Mutiny, Donnie Brasco, Guns of Navarone and To Catch a Thief.
Oh yeah, there is also a new release of Kevin Costner's Revenge as well.

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Wahlberg had "different creative ideas" than Scorsese.

Wahlberg: "I Had Problems with Scorsese"
Mark Wahlberg found it difficult working alongside Martin Scorsese on The Departed as the pair were "constantly struggling" with one another. The actor admits it was a harrowing experience behind the scenes of the Oscar-winning movie, because he had different creative ideas from the director. He says, "Marty and I were constantly in this struggle. I had problems with Marty. He was 'I'm Martin Scorsese... da-dee-da.' He was pushing me in different ways." And the star admits playing the role of foul-mouthed cop Sergeant Dignam - which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination - caused him to take his frustration out on the rest of the cast. Wahlberg adds, "But it wasn't just Marty. The whole time I was in the character so I was mad at everybody. It was Leo (DiCaprio), Matt (Damon) and Jack (Nicholson). F**k Jack too. We were able to laugh about it afterwards and we have a great relationship now and we're going to do other stuff in the future."



From Randy:
Ok,

A. You're Marky Mark
B. He is Martin F'n Scorsese

Even if he plays the "I'm Martin Scorsese" card, the fact is ...he IS Martin Scorsese! ... and you're a guy LUCKY to be making movies!

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Tougher Sherlock Holmes coming to the big screen

Sherlock Holmes is aiming to return to a theater near you. Not that stuffy, intellectual Holmes, but rather a Holmes that is more than ready to roll up his sleeves and beat the everlovin’ snot out of wrongdoers everywhere.

Producer Lionel Wigram has written an as yet unpublished graphic novel (comic book to you heathens)featuring a more physical Sherlock Holmes, one that utilizes skills such as swordplay and boxing (the bare knuckle kind). Neil Marshall will handle directing duties. Marshall garnered critical, and box office, success for his horror flick The Descent.

Michael Johnson is writing the script.Nothing has been said as to whether they will beutilizing any of the original storylines by Doyle.

Now for the scary (at least to me) part:
The Daily Express is reporting that Russell Crowe appears to be the front-runner to play Mr. Homes.

Why?

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Season one of Cagney & Lacey pushed back.

I have been notified that the DVD release of Season one of Cagney and Lacey has been pushed back. It was slated for a May 8th release.

No new date has been set.

As soon as a new date has been set, I will post it.

As always, all DVD release info is available on the Crimespree DVD Calendar.

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Cruise to star in latest from Bryan Singer.

Variety is reporting that Tom Cruise will star in the forthcoming WWII thriller by the director and writer of The Usual Suspects.

Last week, I mentioned that Director Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns) was joining forces with Academy-award winning Screenwriter Chris McQuarrie for a new ensemble thriller set in WWII.

The two previously worked together on the 1995 classic The Usual Suspects.

Valkyrie is based on a real like plot by German military leaders to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Tom Cruise (Do I need to list what he has done??) will star as Count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, the colonel that led the “July plot.”

The current plan is to start shooting this summer. After this film, Singer will tackle the sequel to 2005's Superman Returns with filming starting in March 0f 2008.

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DVD Review: Sleeper Cell: American Terror.

Sleeper Cell: American Terror (Sleeper Cell Season 2)

Paramount Home Entertainment

I watched the original Sleeper Cell when I bought my iPod Video. I thought, "it is a Showtime production; it will be more real than anything on regular TV. ...AND they'll show boobies!" I was not disappointed.

Back again from the first season are Michael Ealy as FBI agent Darwyn al-Sayeed; Oded Fehr as Farik (the cell leader from last season); Henri Lubati as Ilija, the only other terrorist to escape alive from last season's finale; and the lovely Melissa Sagemiller as Darwyn's girlfriend, Gail (who this season knows he is an FBI agent, and not a ex-con with mysterious dealings
strange foreigners in the middle of the night).

This season has Darwyn infaltrating another cell that is planning a nuclear attack on American soil. Farik and Ilija are followed on their respective courses in the aftermath of last season's failed attack.

I really enjoyed last season and was pumped to see what happened next. I realized watching the second season that what I liked most about the first season was the interaction between Michael Ealy's low-key Muslim character and Oded Fehr's extremist character. (Of which there is none in the second season, except in the final episode.) The second season, while good, was a lot like the first, with a couple of exceptions: Darwin has a new handler (the FBI agent that he
reports info to and gets info from) that he does not get along with, and one of the terrorists is a woman (who takes an uncomfortable interest in Gail).

You've got to like Oded Fehr...even though he is playing a character who would kill you for looking at him wrong, he seems extraordinarally "cool." I am talking "The Fonz" cool...you know, if Fonzie were a Muslim extremist, and Richie was an undercover FBI agent and Ralph Malph was his Handler.

Randy Otteson

Click here to order Sleeper Cell - American Terror - The Complete Second Season from Amazon.

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DVD Review: Rosemary & Thyme - Series Three

Rosemary & Thyme - Series Three

Acorn Media

Charming is not a word one usually associates with Murder Mysteries, at least I don't...usually. But for Rosemary and Thyme starring Felicity Kendal (sigh) and Pam Ferris, it fits. In this age of Forensic Overkill these stories, third and evidently last in the series, are a breath of fresh air, sans fertilizer. Oh, people die (hence the name murder mystery) but we are NOT treated to a close up and personal view of anyones entrails. And for that sometimes you want to shout "praise be!" We are treated to views of flowers and plants, and while I don't claim to be a big lover of either, it was...nice. In fact if I had to sum it all up, I would do it with; Nice. Not the murderers (boo, hiss) but pretty much everyone else.

For the most part they are pottering about the garden, someone else's, they are some kind of garden doctors, and come across or are directed to a body. Open mouthed shock ensues, scene closes, and opens with them back pottering. Occasionally one will pop up her head and say something like; "You don't suppose the murderer was a left handed Eskimo?" to which the other will reply, "I shouldn't think so," or "Yes, that explains the ice and whale blubber.

I'm poking fun, but these are fun. I enjoyed them and I think you will as well.

Specials are Location notes, photo gallery, and filmographies.

Lee Crawford

Click here to order Rosemary & Thyme: Series Three from Amazon.

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DVD Review: Michael Shayne Mysteries Vol 1.

Michael Shayne Mysteries Vol.1

Twentieth Century Fox

The series of movies in this set--Michael Shayne Private Detective, The Man Who Wouldn't Die, Sleepers West and Blue White and Perfect--star Lloyd Nolan as Michael Shayne. Nolan had a long career in Hollywood, appearing in over 150 movies and television shows; he worked right up until his death in Sept. of 1985, at the age of 83. (There was a second series of Shayne films starring Hugh Beaumont.)

The character of Michael Shayne was created by Brett Halliday, which was a pseudonym of Davis Dresser (who also wrote as Asa Baker, Mathew Blood, Kathryn Culver, Don Davis, Hal Debrett, Anthony Scott, and Anderson Wayne). 32 of the books were actually written by Dresser; the volumes that followed were written by a series of different ghost writers, including Denis Lynds and Robert Terrall. However, only the first film is based on one of the Halliday books.

Throughout the special features and in the booklet, the term noir is bandied about; and while I make no claims to be an expert, I would not call these noir films...maybe noir lite. The lighter toneactually makes these more watchable than typical noir.Nolan was perfect for the role and it is very clear he had a lot of fun with it. I especially love his interactions with other characters; he does subtle little things that really add to the role. Nolan embraced the wise cracking,quick thinking character they wanted for the movies. Tight plotting andnice directing make these truly classic detective films, and they should bein the collections of anyone who likes the PI genre.

The producer, Sol Wurtzel, is the same genius who brought us Mr. Moto. Fox studios liked their detective movies, which is evident in the run of the series.

The set has some really nice extra features including a great booklet,and a featurette called The Detective Who Never Dies, in which they talk to OttoPenzler, Barry Zeman, and Dressler's widow.

Also included is a feature on cover artist Robert McGinnis, "Follow That Lead", and Nabbing Crooks The Michael Shayne Way.

All in all, this is a must own for mystery fans, with hours of entertainment. I'm really looking forward to volume 2, and I plan to reread some of the books now as well.

Jon Jordan

Click here to order The Michael Shayne, Private Detective Collection Vol. 1 from Amazon.

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DVD Releases for March 20th.

Because today has been a day from Hell, I have no snarky details for any of the releases. Seriously, it is only Six pm and I am looking longingly at the Liquor cabinet.

Today is a busy day for DVDs as you can see from the list below. We will have reviews for Sleeper Cell, Michael Shayne collection and Rocky Balboa up within the next 48 hours.

Also, several titles have been added to the Crimespree DVD Calendar of late. The Hustler and The Verdict are both getting new editions, and The Fall Guy and The Practice are finally coming out. Remember, the calendar is generally updated at least once a week.

March 20th

Blood Diamond $34.99 Extras: Blood on the Stone” Documentary (50mins) - Follow the path of a diamond from the ground to the store, ”Becoming Archer” Featurette (8:30mins) - A profile of Leonardo DiCaprio and how he trained for the war, ”Journalism on the Front Line” Featurette (6:07mins) - Jennifer Connelly on Women Journalists at war, ”Inside the Siege of Freetown” Featurette (10:28mins) - See how Ed Zwick tackled the pivotal scene, Music Video: "Shine On Em" by rap artist Nas (warner)
Click here to order Blood Diamond (Two-disc Special Edition) from Amazon.

JAG: The Complete Third Season (1997-98) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $64.99. (Paramount).Click here to order JAG - The Complete Third Season from Amazon.

Miami Vice Season Three (1986-87) Five-disc set with 24 episodes $59.98 (Universal)
Click here to order Miami Vice Season Three from Amazon.

Miami Vice Season Four (1987-88) Five-disc set with 22 episodes $59.98 (Universal)
Click here to order Miami Vice Season Four from Amazon.

The Michael Shayne, Private Detective Collection Vol. 1 (Michael Shayne, Private Detective / The Man Who Wouldn't Die / Sleepers West / Blue, White, and Perfect) (1941) Lloyd Nolan $29.98 (Fox)
Click here to order The Michael Shayne, Private Detective Collection Vol. 1 from Amazon.

Rocky Balboa (2006) Dir.: Sylvester Stallone; Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Geraldine Hughes, Antonio Tarver, Talia Shire. Extras: Commentary by Stallone, deleted scenes, alternate ending, boxing bloopers, "Skill vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa," "Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky's Final Fight," "Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fight." (Sony).

Sleeper Cell: The Complete Second Season (2006) Three-disc set with eight episodes, $29.99. (Paramount).
Click here to order Sleeper Cell - American Terror - The Complete Second Season from Amazon.

The Wild Wild West: The Complete Second Season (1966-67) Seven-disc set with 28 episodes, $54.99. (Paramount).
Click here to order The Wild, Wild West- Complete Second Season from Amazon.

March 27th will bring us Season Five of the Shield and Children of Men.

Jeremy

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If she returns for a fourth season, Veronica Mars will likely be a little older.

One of the best detective shows on TV is at risk of being cancelled. The cast and crew of Veronica Mars are waiting to hear whether or not they will return for a fourth season.

If they do, it will likely be a very different show.

The Hollywood Reporter and E! Online are reporting that creator Rob Thomas is filming a trailer for the new concept fourth season. This trailer will be shown to CW network execs in hopes on convincing them to bring the show back.

The show would jump forward a few years and either place Mars in the FBI Academy (according to the Reporter), or have her done with the Academy and a full-fledged FBI agent (according to E!Online).

If this change occurs, it is not known whether anyone other than Kristen Bell (who plays Mars) would be coming back.

No official decision will be made until May or so.

For those of you that enjoy the show and want it to return, send a letter to:
Dawn Ostroff
President of Entertainment,
The CW Television Network
4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg 168
Burbank, CA 91522-0002

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Filming undeway for film version of Greg Rucka's Whiteout.

The film version of Greg Rucka's Whiteout is currently filming in Canada.

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld, Pearl Harbor) is starring as U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko. Stetko has been sent to Antarctica to solve the continent's first murder. The six months of sun are coming to an end and Carrie has little time to catch the killer before the sun sets and she is stuck there, with the killer, for the six months of darkness.

Gabriel Macht (The Good Shepherd, Because I Said So) is playing a UN operative that is also on the case.

Also staring are Tom Skerritt (River Runs Through It, Alien, Top Gun) and Columbus Short (Darius from NBC's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip).

The director is Dominic Sena (Kalifornia, Swordfish, Gone in Sixty Seconds).

The script is from Erich and Jon Hoeber. They are not too well known right now, but recently wrote the script for the creepy sequel to Alice In Wonderland titled Alice. Alice stars Sarah Michelle Geller (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Grudge) as a grown up, and quite troubled, Alice that returns to Wonderland.

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DVD Review: Emergency season three.

Before we get to the review, I would like to take a minute to welcome Miz Naomi to the Crimespree home.

Emergency: Season Three

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

If you can make it through the 1970s melodrama and the quasi-Dragnet speechifying of the first two seasons, you’ll find that, in the third season, this series finally comes into its own. The scripts are better paced, providing a better balance of talk and action, and the actors are more comfortable in their roles.

One of the keys to the success of the show is the chemistry between the two main characters. Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto are partners in the Los Angeles Fire Department’s fledgling paramedic program. Roy (Kevin Tighe), is the quiet, grounded one; married with kids. Johnny (Randolph Mantooth) is, of course, the complete opposite: single, impulsive, given to flights of cockeyed reasoning. There is some fine acting here. Tighe plays the more reserved DeSoto as alternately amused and exasperated with his partner. Mantooth plays Johnny with puppy-dog charm.

When the alarm sounds, however, both men are focused and competent. This show is a fine action series and, even after more than 30 years, it still holds up as a procedural show. Its influence on today’s emergency medical field can’t be underrated. If you read the internet fan sites, you’ll get an idea of how many people were inspired to take up emergency medicine after watching Gage and DeSoto defibrillate victims and set up IVs with ringers lactate and D5W. (As a matter of fact, teen idol Bobby Sherman retired from show business to become an EMT after a guest turn in the season 3 episode “Fools”.)

This show brings back fond memories of being a young teen in the 70s. While all of my friends were sighing over Randolph Mantooth, I was a Kevin Tighe girl. I still recall the cover of a February issue of Tiger Beat showing the two actors reaching out from a heart-shaped picture and a caption reading: “Randy and Kev have a valentine for you!”

Not that I subscribed to Tiger Beat, you understand. I just saw it on the news stand when I was picking up my copy of The Smithsonian.

Naomi J Krueger

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Masterminds behind The Usual Suspects to reunite for new film.

Variety is reporting that the folks that brought us The Usual Suspects are reuniting for a new film.

Director Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns) and screenwriter Chris McQuarrie will join forces for a new World War II era thriller that will, like The Usual Suspects, feature a character-rich ensemble cast. No word on casting at this time.

According to the article, the two developed the script over the holidays. Then approached the Tom Cruise led United Artists with the project.

"We brought it to UA and it was nice one-stop shopping. We decided it was the right place to make this movie, as opposed to shopping it around. It's a period in history that has always fascinated me, and we found a very interesting story that materialized into a pretty wonderful script." Singer told Variety.

The current plan is to start shooting this summer. After this film, Singer will tackle the sequel to 2005's Superman Returns with filming starting in March 0f 2008.

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The Rap Sheet looks at upcoming Crime TV shows.

The esteemed Mr. Pierce over at The Rap Sheet gives us a look at some proposed crime television shows.

Take a look.

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DVD releases for March 13th.

March 13th
Casino Royale (2006) Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright. Two-disc set. $28.96 Extras: "Becoming Bond," an intimate look at how Daniel Craig stepped into the role of the 6th James Bond; "James Bond: For Real," an inside look at action and stunts; "Bond Girls Are Forever," a closer look at Bond's leading ladies; Chris Cornell "You Know My Name" music video. (MGM).
Click here to order Casino Royale (Two-disc Special Edition) from Amazon.
After several years of speculation, Daniel Craig was announced as the sixth James Bond. If Casino Royale is any indication, the choice was the right one. Craig has a physical presence that has been missing in Bond since Connery left the role. There should be a review up by the end of the week.

The Pretender 2001 / The Pretender - Island of the Haunted (2001) $26.95 (Fox)
Click here to order The Pretender 2001/Island of the Haunted from Amazon.
After it was cancelled, two made-for-television films to shot for The Pretender. Here is the wrap up to the popular series.

Without a Trace: The Complete Second Season Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Warner).
Click here to order Without a Trace - Complete Second Season from Amazon.
Anthony LaPaglia and crew return for a second season as a highly specialized unit of the FBI that finds missing persons.

Coming in the next couple of weeks:
March 20th
Blood Diamond
JAG: The Complete Third Season
Miami Vice Season Three
Miami Vice Season Four
The Michael Shayne, Private Detective Collection Vol. 1
Rocky Balboa
Sleeper Cell: The Complete Second Season
The Wild Wild West: The Complete Second Season
March 27th
Children of Men
The Shield Season Five
Don't forget to check out the Crimespree DVD calendar for more info in these releases, as well as more dates and titles for the upcoming months.
Jeremy

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DVD Review: The Full Monty: The Fully Exposed Edition.

The Full Monty: The Fully Exposed Edition
Fox Home Entertainment

I spent the evening with six blue collar guys who are willing to take it all off. How's that for an intro?

The Full Monty is set in scruffy Sheffield, England; and features six unemployed steel workers, each one desparate for a steady paycheck and a better life. There's Gaz (Robert Carlyle), a divorced father unable to meet his child support payments; his best mate Dave (Mark Addy), a teddy bear of a man who is convinced his wife would prefer sharing a bed with Mr. Universe; Gerald (Tom Wilkinson), once a mill foreman, who can't bring himself to tell his well-heeled wife he's been ot of work for six months; and Lomper (Steve Huison), a suicidal fellow who cares for his sickly mother and plays in a brass band. With nothing much to lose, this group of average Joes are inspired by a touring Chippendales-style show to create a one-night-only striptease act of their own, whip the ladies into a frenzy, and rake in some easy cash...which naturally turns out to be not-so-easy cash. Horse (Paul Barber)--a middle aged gentleman who can do the funky chicken and the bump, and Guy (Hugo Speer)--whose audition consists of dropping his pants, to reveal his sizable "talent"--are added to the lineup; mayhem, scandal, and hilarity ensue.

The Full Monty was recognized with a Best Picture Oscar nomination in 1998, an unusual feat for a dark comedy. The ensemble cast is excellent, the humor is refreshingly bleak (and fart-joke free!), and the g-strings are utterly appalling...all in all, it is impossible to imagine a more charming film that culminates in six somewhat ungainly men getting naked. There is much here to make the ladies smile, and to assure the men we like 'em just the way they are. (I'd certainly choose any of these chaps over some silly, chest-waxing Chippendale, if it came down to that...for I am happily married, and posting this on my husband's blog site. Hi, dear!)

Bonus features include two commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, trailers, and the ability to skip to your favorite musical numbers. I spent a good half-hour transfixed by multiple outtakes from the final shot, where the actors keep getting their tear-away g-strings caught on their police hats (yup, police hats!). Delightful! (I mean, educational... about the inconsistency of velcro when affixed to shiny red spandex...that's it.) Well worth the price of admission.

Jill Lynch

Click here to order The Full Monty: The Fully Exposed Edition from Amazon.

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DVD Review: Mr. Moto Collection vol. 2

Mr. Moto Collection Vol 2

Fox Home Entertainment

"You must help me! ...Reeck!" This was one of Peter Lorre's final lines to Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (Reeck being his pronounciation of "Rick"). Casablanca was my introduction to Peter Lorre, then of course I saw the unbelievably funny Arsenic and Old Lace. Peter Lorre is one of those actors that grows on you bit by bit, until you say "Peter Lorre?! I LOVE HIM ! !" (Or perhaps you are part of the population that says, "Oh, you mean that bug eyed guy?", or "Oh, yeah; my Mom loved Columbo when I was growing up." That last one makes my weep. Not a lot...about as much as that Indian from those late 70's littering commercials.) Anyway, when I was asked to watch Mr. Moto and write a review I said, "Peter Lorre?! I LOVE HIM ! !" So I went in primed. It was fun seeing Peter Lorre playing a good guy, instead of a weasel.

Unfortunately, these four films--Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (1939), Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939), Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939), and Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938)--seemed like a rehashing of Charlie Chan. (Of course had I watched Moto first, I might have said, "these Chan films seem like rehashings of Mr. Moto.") Accordingly, I was very interested to learn that Mr. Motos' Gamble was originally slated to be a Warner Olind Charlie Chan movie, but for reasons I will not go into here (you'll have to watch), Mr. Oland was being difficult during filming...so they literally changed, in the script, "Charlie Chan says," to "Mr. Moto says." (This explains why Charlie Chan's "Number One Son" Lee [Keye Luke] was in the movie. If you have seen any of the Chan movies you can tell by the way Mr. Moto treats Lee Chan that this was originally a Chan movie.)

I watched the extras from Moto, and they discussed how Mr. Moto would dress in a disguise and kill people with no remorse (for a good cause, of course). I said, "WHAT!?I want to see THOSE Motos! ! !" Oh, well. Also included as a bonus is The Return of Mr. Moto (1965), starring Puerto Rican actor Henry Silva as Moto; in this incarnation they have dropped trying to make Moto sound or look Japanese, and just refer to him as "The Jap," or "The Oriental."

All in all, if you are a fan of Peter Lorre, these movies are a must. If you are a fan of 30’s movie making, they are a must. If you are a fan of white men dressing up and speaking with an Asian accent: Seek help. Seriously.

Randy Otteson

P.S. Thanks to Miz Cheryl for correcting a title mistake in the review.

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From Rumor to reality: Gyllenhaal in final negotiations to replace Holmes in The Dark Knight (AKA Batman II...or VI depending on how you look at it.)

In a previous post on The Dark Knight, we mentioned that Maggie Gyllenhaal was likely to take Katie Holmes place as Rachael Dawson.

Now, the Hollywood Reporter is...well, reporting that Gyllenhaal (The Secretary, Sherrybaby)is in final negotiations to take the role. I am asuming they simply need to wrap up creative approval on action figures.

The article quoted Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan (Momento, The Prestige) as saying: "I'm extremely excited to work with an actress of Maggie's caliber, and she's a great addition to the cast as we continue our story."

With each addition to the cast, I get more excited for this film.

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DVD Review: Rockford Files Season Three

ROCKFORD FILES Season Three
Universal Classic Television

Season three is the season that brought home an Emmy Award for James Garner. Originally aired in 1976-1977, the things that make this show work and make it a classic hold up. Jim Rockford doesn’t want to get in fights, he doesn’t want to make waves. But he will do what ever he needs to do to solve his case. Another real asset to the show was David Chase who wrote and produced Rockford Files.

Season three also sees the cast really mesh, not unlike a good pit crew on a racing team. Everyone involved with the show has hit their stride and as a result the entire season is great. The cases Rockford takes are a bit more meaty also, dealing with corruption and really helping people who need help. Stand out episodes for me are Feeding Frenzy which sees Jin helping his fiancé’s father make an error from his past right, and Just Another Polish Wedding which features Isaac Hayes as an old prison pal. And there are a lot of great guest stars through out the season; Cleavon Little, Strother Martin, Ned Beatty, and Robert Loggia.

No special features this time out, but there is also a bonus episode from season 4 called Quick Nirvana.

No doubt about it, shows like this, and especially seasons like this are the reason Television on DVD is such a good idea. This is extremely re-watchable.
Jon Jordan.

Click here to order Rockford Files - Season Three from Amazon.

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Crimespree Cinema Index of DVD Reviews.

Welcome to the Crimespree DVD review index. This contains a complete list (with links) of all DVDs reviewed here at Crimespree Cinema as well as The Central Crime Zone.
This index will be updated regularly.

12 Angry Men: 50th Anniversary Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
12 ROUNDS (Gerald So)
16 Blocks (Lee Crawford)
21 (Lee Crawford)
21 JUMP STREET: Complete First Season (Gerald So)
24: season one special edition (Jeremy Lynch)
24: Season Six (Lee Crawford)
24: Redemption (Lee Crawford)
24: Season seven (Jeremy Lynch)
27 Dresses (Jeremy Lynch)
3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR - Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
3:10 to Yuma (Jeremy Lynch)
$ (Randy Otteson)

The Adventures of Brisco County Jr (Jon Jordan)
ADAM-12: Season thee (Jon Jordan)
Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Classic Collection 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
An Affair in Trinidad (Lee Crawford)
An Affair to Remember (Randy Otteson)
The Anderson Tapes (Jon Jordan)
Any Given Sunday: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier (Lee Crawford)
Archangel (Jon Jordan)
The Aura (Jon Jordan)

B.L. Stryker: The complete first season (Gerald So)
B.L. Stryker: The complete series (Gerald So)
Basic Instinct 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
The Batman: The complete Fifth season (Jeremy Lynch)
Being There: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The BETRAYED (Gerald So)
The Big Bang Theory: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
The Big Easy: season one (Gerald So)
The Big Lebowski: 10th Anniversary edition (Jeremy Lynch)
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Bionic Woman: Volume one (Jon Jordan)
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (Lee Crawford)
Black Hawk Down: Extended cut (Randy Otteson)
Blood Diamond (Jeremy Lynch)
Blue Murder (Naomi Krueger)
Blue Murder: Set 2 (Naomi Krueger)
Blue Murder: Set 3 (Naomi Krueger)
Blue Thunder (Jeremy Lynch)
Body Heat: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Bones: Season One (Gerald So)
Bones: Season Two (Gerald So)
Bones: Season Three (Gerald So)
BOOKER - Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Boston Legal: Season One (Jeremy Lynch)
Boston Legal: Season Three (Jon Jordan)
BOSTON LEGAL: Season five (Jeremy Lynch)
Bottle Shock (Jeremy Lynch)
Brick (Jeremy Lynch)
Bright Lights, Big City: Special Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Bubba Ho-Tep Hail to the King Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Burn Notice: season one (Jeremy Lynch)
BURN NOTICE: Season two DVD/Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid: Special Edition (Jeremy Lynch & Jon Jordan)

The Caine Mutiny (Randy Otteson)
CALLAN: Set two (Jeremy Lynch)
Cannon: Season one, volume two (Jon Jordan)
Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Casino Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The Chairman (Lee Crawford)
Charlie Chan Collection Volume 2. (Randy Otteson)
Chicago 10 (Jeremy Lynch)
Chinatown: Special Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
CHiPs: Season one (Jon Jordan)
Chuck: Season one (Gerald So)
Chuck: Season one Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
THE CLEANER: Season One (Jeremy Lynch)
CLERKS II: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The Closer: season three (Jeremy Lynch)
THE CLOSER: Season four (Jeremy Lynch)
Cloverfield (Jeremy Lynch)
Cool Hand Luke: Deluxe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
CRACKER: The Complete collection (Jeremy Lynch)
Crash (Jeremy Lynch)
Criminal Minds: First Season (Jon Jordan)
Criminal Minds: Season 2 (Lee Crawford)
CSI - Season seven (Jeremy Lynch)
CSI: Season Eight (Jeremy Lynch)

The Da Vinci Code (Jeremy Lynch)
Da Vinci's Inquest: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
Da Vinci's Inquest: Season Two (Jeremy Lynch)
Da Vinci's Inquest: Season Three (Jeremy Lynch)
Damages: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
DAMAGES: Season two (Jeremy Lynch)
The Dark Knight: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Day Watch: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The Dead Pool: Deluxe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
DEAD LIKE ME: The complete collection (Jeremy Lynch)
DEAD LIKE ME: Life After Death (Gerald So)
Death Proof (Jeremy Lynch)
Deliverance: 35th Anniversary Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
The Departed (Jeremy Lynch)
Dexter: The First season (Jeremy Lynch)
Dexter: The First season Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Dexter: Season two (Jeremy Lynch)
DEXTER - Season two Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
DEXTER - Season three Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Diamond Dogs (Jeremy Lynch)
Dick Francis Mysteries (Jon Jordan)
The Die Hard Collection (Jeremy Lynch)
The Dirty Dozen: Special Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Dirty Sexy Money: The complete first season (Jeremy Lynch)
DIRTY SEXY MONEY - The Complete Final Season (Jeremy Lynch)
DISTRICT 9 (Patti Abbott)
Disturbia (Lee Crawford)
DNa: first and second seasons (Lee Crawford)
Doctor Who: The complete fourth series (Jon Jordan)
DOLLHOUSE - First season (Lee Crawford)
Donnie Brasco-Extended Cut (Lee Crawford)
DR. STRANGELOVE: Blu-ray (Lee Crawford)
The Dresden Files: Season one (Gerald So)

Eastern Promises (Jeremy Lynch)
Eastern Promises: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Emergency!: Season Four (Naomi Krueger)
Emergency!: Season Five (Naomi Krueger)
Enchanted (Jeremy Lynch)
ENTOURAGE: The Complete fifth season (Jeremy Lynch)
The Equalizer: Season One (Lee Crawford)

Face/Off: Special Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
The Fall Guy: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
Fangoria's Blooddrive Collection (Jon Jordan)
FARGO: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Father Brown: Set 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF - Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Film Noir Classics Collection volume 4 (Jeremy Lynch)
Firefly Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Firewall (Jeremy Lynch)
First Knight: special edition (Ruth Jordan)
Fletch: The Jane Doe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
The French Connection: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE - Criterion collection (Tom Piccirilli)
Friday the 13th: the series: season one (Jeremy Lynch)
Friday The 13th: the series - the second season (Jeremy Lynch)
THE FUGITIVE: Season two, Volume two (Jon Jordan)
The Full Monty: The Fully Exposed Edition (Jill Lynch)
Funny Face: Centennial Collection (Randy Otteson)

GALAXY QUEST: Deluxe Edition (Randy Otteson)
The Garment Jungle (Jeremy Lynch)
George Carlin: Its Bad For Ya! Blu-ray (Jill Lynch)
The Godfather Trilogy: The Coppola restoration , Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Gone Baby Gone (Jeremy Lynch)
The Good German (Lee Crawford)
The Good Sheperd (Randy Otteson)
GRAY'S ANATOMY - Complete Fifth Season (Bradley Hayward)
GREEN LANTERN - First Flight Blu-ray (Gerald So)

Hard Candy (Jeremy Lynch)
Haven (Jon Jordan)
Hawaii Five-O season one (Jon Jordan)
Hawaii Five-O season two (Jon Jordan)
Hawaii Five-O: season three (Jon Jordan)
Hawaii Five-O: season four (Jon Jordan)
HAWAII FIVE-O: Season six (Jon Jordan)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Blu-ray) (Jeremy Lynch)
HERE'S LUCY - Season One (Bradley Hayward)
Hill Street Blues: Season Two (Jon Jordan)
A History of Violence (Jeremy Lynch)
HUNTER: The complete first season (Jeremy Lynch)
The Hustler: Two Disc Collector's Edition (Randy Otteson)

I Wake Up Screaming (Lee Crawford)
The Illusionist (Lee Crawford)
In the Heat of the Night: 40th Anniversary edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Indiana Jones special editions (Jeremy Lynch)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
In the Valley of Elah (Lee Crawford)
Inside Man (Jeremy Lynch)
Ironside: Seasons one and two (Jon Jordan)
Intelligence: season one (Jeremy Lynch)
INTELLIGENCE - Season two (Jeremy Lynch)
The Invaders: The Second Season (Jon Jordan)
THE INVISIBLES: Series one (Jeremy Lynch)

JAG: Season One (Jon Jordan)
Jake & the Fatman: Season one, volume two (Jon Jordan)
James Bond Ultimate Editions 1 & 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
Jesse Stone Night Passage + Death in Paradise (Gerald So)
Jesse Stone: Sea Change (Gerald So)
JESSE STONE: THIN ICE (Gerald So)
John Grisham's The Rainmaker: Special Collector's Edition (Lee Crawford)
Jonathan Creek: season 2 (Naomi Krueger)
Jumper (Lee Crawford)
Juno (Jeremy Lynch)

Kidnapped: The Complete Series (Lee Crawford)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Jon & Ruth Jordan)

The Last Detective: set 4 (Jeremy Lynch)
The Last Detective: The complete collection (Jon Jordan)
Last King of Scotland (Jeremy Lynch)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Seventh Year (Jeremy Lynch)
LEVERAGE: Season one (Gerald So)
LICENSE TO KILL: Blu-ray (Gerald So)
LIE TO ME - Season one Blu-ray (Gerald So)
Life: Season one (Gerald So)
LIFE: Season two (Jon Jordan)
LIFE ON MARS: Season one (Ruth Jordan)
Live Free or Die Hard (Randy Otteson)
LONELY STREET (Gerald So)
Lovejoy: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
Lovejoy: Season two (Jeremy Lynch)

M*A*S*H - Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Magnum Force: Deluxe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Magnum P.I.: Complete Fourth Season (Jeremy Lynch)
Magnum P.I.: Complete Seventh Season (Jeremy Lynch)
MAJOR LEAGUE: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The complete series (Jon Jordan)
Mannix: season one (Jon Jordan)
Mannix: Season two (Jon Jordan)
The Matador (Jeremy Lynch)
MATLOCK - Season three (Bradley Hayward)
Mercenary For Justice (Jon Jordan)
Miami Vice Seasons 3 & 4 (Jon Jordan)
Michael Clayton (Jeremy Lynch)
Michael Shayne Mysteries Vol One (Jon Jordan)
THE MIDDLEMAN (Gerald So)
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Midsomer's Murders: series 9 (Jeremy Lynch)
Midsomer's Murders:series 10 (Jeremy Lynch)
Midsomer Murders: Series 12 (Jeremy Lynch)
Miss Marple Collection (Randy Otteson)
Mission Impossible: Season one (Jon Jordan)
Mission Impossible: Season two (Jon Jordan)
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Season six (Jon Jordan)
The Mod Squad: season one, volume one (Jeremy Lynch)
The Mod Squad: season two, volume one (Jon Jordan)
Moontide (Jeremy Lynch)
Munich (Jeremy Lynch)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Unrated Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Mr. Brooks (Randy Otteson)
Mr. Moto Collection Volume One (Jon Jordan)
Mr. Moto Collection Volume Two (Randy Otteson)
The Mummy (Randy Otteson)
Murder in Suburbia series 2 (Naomi Krueger)
Murder Room: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (Lee Crawford)
Murder, She Wrote: Season Eight (Bradley Hayward)
My Blueberry Nights (Jeremy Lynch)
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 volume 15 (Jeremy Lynch)

Nancy Drew (Jeremy Lynch)
Nash Bridges: Season one (Jon Jordan)
New Street Law: Season one (Jon Jordan)
NCIS: Complete Second Season (Gerald So)
NCIS: Complete Third Season (Gerald So)
NCIS: The Fourth Season (Gerald So)
NCIS: The Fifth Season (Gerald So)
NCIS: The Sixth Season (Gerald So)
Night Watch: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
No country for Old Men: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Numb3rs: Season One (Jeremy Lynch)
Numb3rs: Season Two (Lee Crawford)
Numb3rs: Season Three (Jeremy Lynch)

Ocean's Thirteen (Jeremy Lynch)
Our Man in Havana (Lee Crawford)
Oz: Complete Sixth Season (Jeremy Lynch)

The Paper Chase: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE: Season One (Jon Jordan)
The Pelican Brief: Blu-ray (Gerald So)
Perfume (Jeremy Lynch)
Perry Mason: The First Season vol 1. (Randy Otteson)
Perry Mason - The second season, Vol. two (Randy Otteson)
PIE IN THE SKY - Series one (Jeremy Lynch)
Pinky & The Brain: Season One (Jeremy Lynch)
The Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray) (Jeremy Lynch)
The Practice Vol one (Jeremy Lynch)
A Prarie Home Companion (Jeremy Lynch)
The Presidents Collection (Jeremy Lynch)
Primal Fear: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Jeremy Lynch)
Prince of the City (Jeremy Lynch)
Proof: Season one (Jon Jordan)
Psych: Complete first season (Gerald So)
Psych: The Complete second season (Gerald So)
PSYCH: The Complete Third Season (Gerald So)
Pushing Daisies: The complete first season (Lee Crawford)

Quantum of Solace: Blu-ray (Gerald So)

The Racing Game (Lee Crawford)
RAISING THE BAR: The complete first season (Jeremy Lynch)
Reaper: Season one (Gerald So)
REAPER: Season two (Gerald So)
Rebus: Set 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
Remington Steele: Season Three (Randy Otteson)
RENEGADE: The complete first season (Gerald So)
Rescue Dawn (Lee Crawford)
Rescue Me: Season 3 (Jon Jordan)
Rescue Me: Season 4 (Jon Jordan)
Risky Business: Deluxe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Road House: Deluxe Edition (Lee Crawford)
Road House 2 (Lee Crawford)
Rockford Files: Season Three (Jon Jordan)
The Rockford Files: Season five (Jeremy Lynch)
The Rockford Files: Season Six (Lee Crawford)
Rocky Balboa (Jeremy Lynch)
Roman Holiday: Centennial collection (Jill Lynch)
Ronin: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Rosemary & Thyme: Series Three (Lee Crawford)
Rough Diamond (Lee Crawford)
Ruth Rendell Mysteries 1 (Lee Crawford)
Romancing The Stone: Special Edition (Jeremy Lynch)

SANCTUARY - Season one (Jon Jordan)
Saving Grace: Season one (Jeremy Lynch)
SAVING GRACE: Season two (Jeremy Lynch)
The Sentinal (Lee Crawford)
Serenity: Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
The Sergio Leone Collection (Randy Otteson)
The Shield: Season six (S.J. Batten)
Shine A Light (Blu-ray) (Jeremy Lynch)
Shark: Season One (Gerald So)
The Shawshank Redemption (Blu-ray) (Jeremy Lynch)
SLING BLADE Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Soap: The Complete Series (Jeremy Lynch)
Shoot Em Up (Jeremy Lynch)
Sleeper Cell: American Terror (Randy Otteson)
SMALLVILLE - Season Eight (Gerald So)
Smokey And The Bandit (Jeremy Lynch)
Smokin' Aces (Lee Crawford)
So I married an Axe Murderer (Jeremy Lynch)
Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus (Sean Chercover)
Spawn: 10th Anniversary Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDERMAN -The complete first season (Gerald So)
Sports Night: Tenth Anniversary Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
The Spy who came in from the Cold: Criterion edition (Jeremy Lynch)
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE COLLECTION - Blu-Ray (Jeremy Lynch, Randy Otteson)
STAR TREK - THE ORIGNAL SERIES - SEASON ONE Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
Streets of San Francisco - Season one, Vol. one (Jon Jordan)
Streets of San Francisco - Season one, Vol. two (Jon Jordan)
Sudden Impact: Deluxe Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Sunset Boulevard: Centennial collection (Randy Otteson)
SUPERNATURAL - The Complete Fourth Season (Gerald So)
Sweeney Todd (Jill Lynch)

TAKEN (Gerald So)
Taps: 25th Anniversary Edtion (Randy Otteson)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles season one (Jeremy Lynch)
There Will Be Blood (Lee Crawford, Jeremy Lynch)
Threshold: The Complete Series (Lee Crawford)
Tiny Toons Adventures: Sesaon one, Volume one (Jeremy Lynch)
TINY TOONS ADVENTURES - Season one, Volume two (Jeremy Lynch)
The Towering Inferno: Special Edition (Randy Otteson)
THE TOWERING INFERNO Blu-ray (Randy Otteson)
To Catch A Thief: Special Collector's Edition (Jeremy Lynch)
To Catch A Thief: Centennial Collection (Jeremy Lynch)
Transformers: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)

UFC 106: ORTIZ VS. GRIFFIN 2 (Jeremy Lynch)
The Unit: Season One (Randy Otteson)
The Unit: Season Two (Jon Jordan)
The Untouchables - Season one, Vol. one (Jon Jordan)
The Untouchable - Season one, Vol. two (Jon Jordan)

V For Vendetta (Jeremy Lynch)
Vantage Point (Lee Crawford)
Veronica Mars: Complete third season (Ruth Jordan)
Vicki (Lee Crawford)

Wall Street: 20th Anniversary edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Wargames: 25th Anniversary edition (Jeremy Lynch)
Warlords (Randy Otteson)
THE WATCHMEN: Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)
The Wild Wild West: Season One (Jon Jordan)
Wire, The: season four (Jeremy Lynch)
Wire, The: Season five (Jeremy Lynch)
WISEGUY: The Complete first season (Jeremy Lynch)
Witness to the Mob (Jon Jordan)
WKRP in Cincinnati: Season One (Jeremy Lynch)
THE WRESTLER - Blu-ray (Jeremy Lynch)

Zodiac: 2 disc director's cut (Jeremy Lynch)

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Folks, we have a bonifide Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew resurgence.

After years of nothing, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are back with a vengence!

First there is the new Nancy Drew movie (Staring Emma Roberts, Rachael Leigh Cook and Tate Donavon) coming out June 15th. Click here for the official web site, complete with a trailer.

Then we got word that Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise are planning on playing the Hardy Brothers as grown men in The Hardy Men. Does anyone think they will make the Parker Stevenson/Shawn Cassidy series look like masterpiece theatre?

Now comes word that Simon & Schuster Interactive is making a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys: Super Mystery Series computer game. Now I am sure many of you are thinking "That sounds cool, tell me more about it." Well, I can't. I have not been able to find out much about it. But rest assured, if I do uncover some details, I shall share them with you.

Jeremy

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Jon Jordan chats about Doctor Who spinoff.

Why not really mystery or crime-related, Mr. Jon shares his love (I am talking about the manly kind of love) of the spinoff of the new Doctor Who series over on the Central Crime Zone.

Click here read read about Torchwood.

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DVD Review: Da Vinci's Inquest season one.

Da Vinci’s Inquest: Season One
Acorn Media

A month ago, I had never heard of Da Vinci’s Inquest. Then a copy of season one found its way to my desk, and I am richer for it.

Da Vinci’s Inquest is a well-written Canadian drama that has a gritty feel, yet rarely goes overboard; managing to deliver a strong sense of realism without going to excess on language, violence or graphic imagery.

Dominick Da Vinci (Nicholas Campbell) is a coroner for Vancouver. His drive to uncover the truth behind the deaths brought to him--to "speak for the dead"--often puts him at odds with his colleagues. A recovering alcoholic who occasionally falls off the wagon, Da Vinci is divorced, with joint custody of a teenage daughter. While we certainly have seen this sort of character before, great pains are taken to avoid making him a cliché. As a result, Dominick feels like a real person and not an archtype of the crime genre.

Fans of the late 70s/early 80s sitcom Soap will be delighted to see Donnelly Rhodes (who played Dutch on said show) here as Detective Leo Shannon. Also appearing, as Da Vinci's daughter, is Jewel Strait, who later played Kaylee on Firefly.

Sadly, this set has no extra features. As one unfamiliar with the show, I would have enjoyed learning a little more about the cast and creative forces behind it. Considering this set is for non-Canadians, it would have made sense to give us a closer look behind the scenes.

After one season, I can say this is one of the best police shows I have seen in the last ten years. Simply fantastic! I can hardly wait for seasons two through seven.

For fans of police shows, this is a must own.

Click here to order Da Vinci's Inquest, Season one from Amazon.

Jeremy Lynch

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White Jazz director Carnahan talks about dueling Ellroy projects.

Our pal J. Kingston Pierce talked yesterday on the Rap Sheet about a couple of film projects, based on the work of James Ellroy, that might be butting heads.

In my Eye On Hollywood column in Crimespree magazine, I talked about Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin' Ace) adaptation of Ellroy's White Jazz that stars Oscar-winner George Clooney (Out of Sight, Syrianna).

Now word is coming out that Regency Enterprises, which produced L.A. Confidential and has rights for a sequel, is looking to bring Russell Crowe (A Brilliant Mind, Gladiator) and Guy Pierce (Memento, Factory Girl) back, along with director Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, In Her Shoes) as well as screenwriter Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, Blood Work), back for a direct sequel to the Ellroy based hit.

White Jazz director Joe Carnahan has addressed this on his website.


WHITE JAZZ VS. LA CONFIDENTIAL 2
03/01/2007 at 08:06 AM
Guys:
By now you may have read in the trades that there's some activity on the Ellroy front vis-a-vis a proposed 'LA CONFIDENTIAL 2' that would star both Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. I had heard about thisa few months back as we had just closed our deal for WHITE JAZZ. Ellroy and I actually spoke about it because they had asked him backinto the loop to work on that script. As far as I know, they are pushing ahead and have asked us to change the Exley character's name in WHITE JAZZ as New Regency apparently has the right.

Those familiar with the book also know that 'The Dud' Dudley Smith is also featured prominently in it. We took the original LA CONFIDENTIAL into account when writing WHITE JAZZ so we opted to remove him from the story.Now that Exley looks like he's out, it will really eliminate any incidental characters from WHITE JAZZ and allow it to be a stand alone and not dependant on the prior characters.

WHITE JAZZ is still the last book in the quartet and while I wish everyone well on LA CONFIDENTIAL 2, I hope they bring some heavy sh*t to the table becausemy younger brother Matt wrote an absolute knockdown, drag-out version of WHITE JAZZ. I'm not throwing down any type of gauntlet here. I have the utmost respect for Hanson and Helgeland. The original is fantastic.

Stylistically, they will be WILDLY divergent, that I can promise. Clooney as Dave Klein is going to rock a 1958 LA that you have never and will never, see again.

JC

Maybe we will get lucky and get two good crime movies out of it all.

Jeremy

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