From: New Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 26, 2008 - Features: Widescreen * Extras! * Nice packaging can't overcome this series' two biggest problems: it was released in nonanamorphic widescreen and the general presentation sometimes borders on being overly dramatic. I'm all about UFOs myself—yes, I even recently attended a MUFON UFO Symposium—but I caught on that the hosts weren't really going to find anything smoking gun evidence, and that it's all interpretation and speculation amidst dodgy CGI. I have hopes that Season Two will tighten the belt a bit and give the series the stability it needs, but for now this Season One collection is just too uneven. Amazon Compare

From: HBO - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 19, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! An occasionally wooden but reasonably heartfelt look at the circus that came to town after the 2000 Presidential election. Amazon Compare

From: Fox Home Entertainment - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: August 26, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * The Hollywood remake of South Korea’s My Sassy Girl is as schizophrenic as one of its main characters appears to be. If you can get past a hard-to-watch first half, you’ll be rewarded with an emotional experience that’ll have even the most macho guy at least a little choked up. Fox’s DVD is a decent one, with nice audio and video presentations, but nothing in the way of extra features. Amazon Compare

From: Fox Home Entertainment - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 26, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * It’s hard to tell people to rent a movie and only watch about 10 minutes of it, but Zach Galifianakis’ work in What Happens in Vegas should be seen, despite the rest of this turkey. Fox’s Extended Jackpot Edition of the film also makes this release worth checking out thanks to Galifianakis’ appearance on a few of the extras. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1932 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 22, 2008 - Features: Extras! * - Recommended! Finally, a good version of Vampyr, which greatly heightens its effectiveness. Criterion supplies a hoard of extras so that few will be disappointed. Amazon Compare

From: Image Entertainment - Year: 2007 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 22, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * The odds of me being attacked by a shark here in the Midwest is very low, but that hasn't stopped me from regularly gobbling up these enjoyable and educational Discovery Channel Shark Week specials. This two-disc set of six recent installments includes the horrific story of the USS Indianapolis, a segment hosted by Survivorman's Les Stroud, and one about a genuine oddball who tries to hypnotize a great white in the open water. Now that's just crazy... Fins up, baby. Amazon Compare

From: Comedy Central Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 19, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! If you thought that John Oliver was simply the lone British correspondent on <a href="showreview.php3?ID=7562">The Daily Show</a>, then you’re only half right. He’s also a great stand-up comic, and he shows off his talents in John Oliver: Terrifying Times. Comedy Central’s disc is a nice effort, with great audio and video and some amusing extra features. Amazon Compare

From: Kino on Video - Year: 1984 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 29, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! Noel Buckner, Mary Dore, and Sam Sills have put together a fine documentary about a rarely discussed bit of American history. With several frank and engaging American veterans of the Spanish Civil War, The Good Fight is as inspiring as it is entertaining. Amazon Compare

From: New Line Home Cinema - Year: 1998 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 29, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! I'm generally skeptical of "director's cut" editions because they seem designed to fleece movie lovers with the promise of a few extra minutes. Thankfully, this extended version of Dark City includes enough new material to warrant another DVD. Exciting new footage, impressive extras and a reasonable price make this a worthwhile release. Amazon Compare

From: Disinformation - Year: 2007 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 26, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Elections are messy, and electronic voting provides a uniquely sinister opportunity for the forces of darkness to corrupt the electoral process, but this documentary doesn't make a persuasive case or a compelling call to action. Unfortunately it's content simply to string together some admittedly outrageous anecdotes with a parade of low-rent conservative rogues, but there's not a lot of rigor to this project. Amazon Compare

From: Paramount Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: PG-13 - Release Date: July 29, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DTS * - Recommended! Though it's virtually impossible to score front-row seats at a Rolling Stones concert, director Martin Scorsese gives us the next best thing with Shine a Light, taking fans on stage with the legendary band for a thrilling performance made even better by the enhanced video and audio capabilities of Blu-ray disc. As it should, the sound trumps the picture here (though not by much), and brings the Stones to life like never before on home video. With a heady mix of signature songs and lesser-known gems, this iconic rock quartet proves it isn't a second-rate imitation of itself, like so many other long-running bands currently limping around country. The Stones may be seniors, but they're still, undeniably, the real deal. Recommended. Amazon Compare

From: Comedy Central Home Video - Year: 2007 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 12, 2008 - Features: Extras! * - Recommended! Still going strong and with no signs of letting up quality-wise, we get to revisit another season of one of the most side-splitting TV series with South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season. All 14 episodes show up in slightly-better-than-broadcast-quality audio and video presentations, and we also get some funny mini- commentaries to spice up each show even more. Amazon Compare

From: Genius Products - Year: 2007 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 12, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! If you’re looking for a scientific, thought-provoking story on the subject of anesthesia awareness, you’re not going to get it from South Korea’s Wide Awake. While there’s some information about it before the opening credits, that’s about as in-depth as this film gets in regards to that spooky topic. However, if you’re in the market for a deep, twisty murder mystery, then this is more than the movie for you and Genius’ nice DVD effort makes it even more of a no-brainer of a rental. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 1966-77 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 12, 2008 A small but compelling sample of the work of a director who died too young; it's a welcome release, but the bare quality of the release is a bit of a disappointment. Amazon Compare

From: The Criterion Collection - Year: 2006 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 12, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! Brand Upon the Brain! is Guy Maddin at his weirdest and most wonderful, a pastiche of silent film homage, bizarre personal history, melodrama, and Freudian psychotherapy session. Maddin's films are love letters to cinema in a language all but forgotten (if it ever existed at all). This one is my favorite. Amazon Compare

From: Warner Home Video - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: August 19, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! Terminator: The Sarah Conor Chronicles tackles the mine field of converting the extremely popular films' story to television and actually delivers a tight, gripping serial. The first nine episodes deliver sharp, believable drama with engaging characters that don't feel like imitators of established figures. During the second season, the key question is whether the show can truly grow and continue to improve. If that happens, this exciting tale could be around for a long time. Amazon Compare

From: Emphasis Entertainment - Year: 2006 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 08, 2008 No Place Like Home is a curious little 2006 documentary from Courtney Fathom Sell—shot when he was 20—conceptually about the aftermath Hurricane Katrina but more so about how it permanently tilted the life of Jac Currie and how his underground Defend New Orleans clothing line came to mean so more than he could have imagined. Running under an hour and shot on a handheld Hi-8 camera, one could easily confuse this for a well-edited home movie, as it does meander in spots. But Currie is a likeable subject, and Courtney Fathom Sell at times seems to just let the camera roll on his daily life. Not your typical doc, but a recommendation if you like them left of center. It can be had for less than $15, and all proceeds go to Gulf Coast Restoration Funds. And put me down for one of those groovy mohawk skull T-shirts, Jac. Watch for my order. Black XL. Amazon Compare

From: MGM Studios DVD - Year: 2007-2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 08, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! Stargate Atlantis's fifth season premiered on July 11th and seems ready to build on the success of the fourth offering. Showcasing a deft combination of silly moments and thrilling drama, the exciting series continues to shine. This excellent DVD release once again reveals the staying power of a goofy premise from a dated feature film. I expect that this impressive offering will push the new season into even stronger territory. Amazon Compare

From: DreamWorks - Year: 2008 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: July 08, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * Extras! * - Recommended! A psychological horror flick with some moments of gruesome gore and thrilling suspense. This deadly little Mexican vacation is well worth the time of anyone looking for an effective scare show. With this Blu-Ray release you'll be right alongside our ill-fated vacationers, reveling in every last gory detail. Recommended. Amazon Compare

From: Genius Products - Year: 2006 - Rated: Not Rated - Release Date: June 17, 2008 - Features: Anamorphic * Widescreen * DD 5.1 * Extras! * - Recommended! If you can’t get enough of high-flying, action-packed martial arts movies, then The Restless is definitely for you. Although nearly-crippled by an overly confusing story, director Cho Dong-Oh has given us a visual treat that’s full of excitement. Genius’ DVD features excellent audio and video, along with a lengthy making-of piece that’s worth a look. Amazon Compare