Revised epic poem, classic TV among releases
By Bruce Dancis
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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Paramount Home Entertainment, rated PG-13 and unrated versions
Using a new technique that digitally enhances his actors on screen, director Robert Zemeckis takes the famous Old English epic poem from the 11th century (probably) and makes it an action-adventure film.
Ray Winstone (slimmed down by computers) plays the titular warrior who battles the monster Grendel (voiced by Crispin Glover) and his equally dangerous mother (Angelina Jolie — really!).
The DVD comes in both unrated and PG-13 versions, plus deleted scenes and five bonus features on the origins, art and design of the movie.
Fox Home Entertainment, R
Wes Anderson's film follows his familiar path of locating the humor within dysfunctional families, but this time places three brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman) in the unfamiliar territory of India, where they are taking a lengthy rail trip after their father's death.
The DVD includes the much-downloaded short "Hotel Chevalier," a prequel Anderson shot a year before this movie, featuring Schwartzman and Natalie Portman; and a behind-the-scenes documentary, "The Darjeeling Limited Walking Tour."
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, R
The frozen and isolated Alaskan town of Barrow is the setting — 30 consecutive days of darkness, you know — for this vampire film starring Josh Hartnett as the town sheriff and Melissa George as his estranged wife and deputy sheriff.
All the horror comes with these bonus features: eight short documentaries on the making of the movie and a commentary with director David Slade, producer Rob Tapert and stars Hartnett and George.
MGM Home Entertainment, R
Frank Oz ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "In & Out," "The Stepford Wives") directs this slapstick-filled British farce about all the things that can go wrong at a funeral when the estranged members of a far-flung family meet to bury Dad.
The DVD includes a gag reel and two commentaries one by Oz, the other with writer Dean Craig and cast members Alan Tudyk and Andy Nyman.
Four discs, Criterion Collection, not rated
This DVD boxed set of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 masterpiece about Pu Yi, the last Chinese emperor, includes high-definition, digitally restored editions of both the 163-minute theatrical film that won nine Academy Awards, including best picture, and the 215-minute television version.
The abundant bonus features include a commentary by Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and screenwriter Mark Peploe, the documentary "Making 'The Last Emperor,' " several interviews with the filmmaker, a new essay by film critic David Thomson and more.
Three discs, Fox Home Entertainment, not rated
In 1982, four years after playing a Chicago psychiatrist on "The Bob Newhart Show," Bob Newhart returned to prime-time TV as a New York writer who moves to rural Vermont to host a cable TV show and run a historic inn with his wife (Mary Frann).
The three-disc set includes all 22 episodes from the 1982-83 season, plus bonus features on Newhart's sartorial and comedic styles, a look at the Stratford Inn and a TV Land "Bob Newhart Celebration."


