HERE’S our regular look at some of the more interesting films recently released on DVD in the US and UK (most of these are also available on VHS). Some will be available to rent in local video clubs, or of course you can always buy over the Internet; dozens of suppliers, but http://www.amazon.com and http://www.blackstar.co.uk (for the US and UK, respectively) are among the most reliable, if not necessarily the cheapest. Expect to pay around C£15 per disc, including shipping.
NEW FILMS
Finding Nemo: A hit of Lion King-esque proportions, kids’ cartoon about lost fishy comes to DVD; extras include ‘Fisharades’ game (in which viewers must guess shapes formed by a school of silver fish) and Exploring the Reef documentary presented by Jean-Michel ‘Son of Jacques’ Cousteau. [US/UK]
Respiro: Fabulously strange Italian coming-of-age tale, starring Valeria Golino as every boy’s dream mum. [US]
Ignorant Fairies: Also Italian, though made by a Turk (director Ferzan Ozpetec); acclaimed drama of a woman coming to terms with her husband’s death. [UK]
Whale Rider: New Zealand crowd-pleaser about little Maori girl defying tradition. Includes deleted scenes and ‘Te Waka: Building the Canoe’ featurette. [US]
Run Ronnie Run: Tasteless, sometimes hilarious satire from the creators of Mr Show. [US]
OLD FILMS
Tokyo Story (1953): Fifth-greatest film of all time (according to last year’s Sight & Sound poll), Yasujiro Ozu’s wry domestic drama comes in deluxe two-disc package from the Criterion Collection, including two documentaries and even the original trailer. [US]
The Lon Chaney Collection: Three silent films starring the ‘Man of a Thousand Faces’, with the disturbing, perversely romantic The Unknown (1927) as the standout (others being The Ace of Hearts (1921) and Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1927)). [US]
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984): Cheesy but fun 80s slasher movie about killer dressed as Santa Claus (!), controversial in its day; comes in two-film package with its rip-off 1987 sequel. [US]
El Bruto (1952): Rare and mordant Luis Bunuel drama, from his Mexican period. [US]
Pumping Iron (1976): Arnie the body-builder, before he became Governor! Fascinating documentary on the Mr Universe contest – including a young Mr Schwarzenegger – released in ‘25th Anniversary Special Edition’ even though it was made in 1976 (that’s what you get for putting body-builders in charge of the DVD). [US]
In Cold Blood (1967): Haunting true-crime story, based on the Truman Capote book. [UK]
Dick Van Dyke Show, Seasons 1 & 2: Family sitcom, 60s-style. [US]
I’m Alan Partridge: Series 2: Dead-on satire, courtesy Steve Coogan. [UK]
