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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2008

'Juno,' 'Alien' both out on single- and 2-disc editions

By Bruce Dancis
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

  • "Juno"

    One and two discs, Fox Home Entertainment, rated PG-13

    With an Oscar-winning original screenplay by Diablo Cody, this witty comedy stars Ellen Page as teenager Juno MacGuff, whose unexpected pregnancy leads her to make an intensive search for the right parents to adopt her baby.

    The single-disc edition includes a commentary by director Jason Reitman and Cody, 11 deleted scenes, screen tests, a gag reel and more. The twodisc DVD adds four short features: "Way Beyond 'Our' Maturity Level: Juno — Leah — Bleeker," "Diablo Cody Is Totally Boss," "Jason Reitman For Shizz" and "Honest to Blog! Creating Juno."

  • "Aliens vs. Predator — Requiem"

    One and two discs, Fox Home Entertainment, R and unrated versions

    Civilization as we know it — OK, Colorado — hangs in the balance as a spaceship lands in a small Colorado town and vicious Aliens and a new Predator battle for dominance, with humans caught in the middle.

    Available in both R-rated and unrated versions, the single disc edition comes with two commentaries — one by co-directors Colin and Greg Strause and producer John Davis, the other with special-effects creators Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis. The two-disc "Extreme Unrated Special Edition" adds "Design Galleries" and a bunch of short features on the making of the movie.

  • "Lars and the Real Girl"

    MGM Home Entertainment, PG-13

    Ryan Gosling stars as Lars Lindstrom in this offbeat comedy about an introvert who falls in love with a life-sized doll, which naturally causes some consternation among his friends and family.

    Extra features include one deleted scene and two short documentaries, "Just Like All the Other Actors" and "The Real Story of 'Lars and the Real Girl.' "

  • "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

    Image Entertainment, R

    Veteran director Sidney Lumet ("12 Angry Men," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Serpico") delivers a powerful thriller starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke as brothers who decide to rob a suburban mom-and-pop-owned jewelry store. The twist is that the store's mom and pop are their own parents.

    The DVD comes with an audio commentary by Lumet, Hoffman and Hawke.

  • "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale"

    Fox Home Entertainment, PG-13

    Based on the "Dungeon Siege" video game series, Jason Statham stars as a hard-working man who must fight an evil sorcerer (Ray Liotta) after his wife (Claire Forlani) has been kidnapped and his village destroyed by murderous beasts known as Krugs.

    Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

  • "A Passage To India"

    Two discs, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, PG

    Based on E.M. Forster's novel, this 1984 movie is the last by much-honored British director David Lean ("Lawrence of Arabia," "Doctor Zhivago"). Set in colonial India, it's about an Englishwoman (Judy Davis) who becomes friendly with an Indian doctor (Victor Banerjee) before he is accused of sexually assaulting her.

    This two-disc Collector's Edition has a commentary by producer Richard Goodwin and many special features, including interviews with cast and crew members, behind-the-scene examinations of the casting, filming and post-production work, and profiles of both author Forster and director Lean.