Gray, John

Helter Skelter (Director's Cut)

Solid performances are the high point of this 2004 adaptation of L.A. prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's book about Charles Manson's Family, the Tate-La Bianca murders, and the subsequent trial that caught the world's attention in 1969. While the 1976 TV movie focused mainly on Bugliosi (here played by Bruno Kirby), writer-director John Gray turns his film's attention to cult member Linda Kasabian (a typically fine Clea DuVall), who eventually testified against Manson (a mannered Jeremy Davies) and his followers after they were arrested for several brutal murders, including actress Sharon Tate. Gray gets chilling turns from Allison Smith, Marguerite Moreau, and Mary Lynn Rajskub as "Manson Girls" Patricia Krenwinkle, Susan Atkins, and Squeaky Fromme, respectively, and the production is atmospherically photographed, but the dialogue is often ham-fisted, and rushes to an all-too-early conclusion (midway through the trial). The DVD offers the 180-minute film in a 1:78:1 anamorphic transfer, and includes a brace of deleted scenes (including some violent moments cut for TV broadcast), commentary by Gray and executive producer Mark L. Wolper, and footage of Davies in rehearsal. --Paul Gaita

Jeremy Davies stars as convicted killer Charles Manson in this new television movie based on the true story of the August 1969 Tate/LaBianca murders, as chronicled in the bestselling book Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. Almost 35 years ago Manson's followers, at his instruction, brutally massacred seven people over two consecutive nights in Los Angeles and scrawled bloody messages on the walls of the crime scenes. The first night, director Roman Polanski's wife, eight-month-pregnant actress Sharon Tate, was murdered along with coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski and Steven Parent. The second night, supermarket chain president Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, were found stabbed to death in their home.

The Glimmer Man

Steven Seagal needed a new approach to his standard head-busting heroics, so he teamed up with Keenen Ivory Wayans for this routine 1996 action flick. This time stone-faced Steve plays Los Angeles homicide detective Jack Cole, newly transplanted from New York and teamed up with Jim Campbell (Wayans). They're assigned to track down "The Family Man," a serial killer who earned his nickname by crucifying entire families and leaving religious graffiti as his calling card. The case heats up when the latest victim turns out to be Cole's ex-wife, and Cole is considered a primary suspect. That makes Seagal get really mad--you don't wanna get Seagal too upset, y'know--but he still has time to quote Buddhist wisdom and crack wise with Wayans, who plays it relatively straight as the practical half of this partnership. It's typical Seagal stuff all the way, with obligatory fight scenes every 10 minutes or so, but Seagal fans will enjoy it, and Brian Cox makes a suitably hissable villain. --Jeff Shannon

Steven Seagal stars as a cop on the trail of a serial murderer in this psychological action-thriller. Seagal is John Cole a lieutenant specializing in serial murderers who teams with a homicide detective (Keenen Ivory Wayans) to track an elusive killer.Running Time: 92 min.System Requirements:Starring: Steven Seagal Keenen Ivory Wayans Director: John Gray Interactive Menus Production Notes Scene Access Theatrical Trailer Languages: English and French Subtitles: English French and Spanish Standard version formatted from its original version to fit your screen Widescreen version presented in a "matted" widescreen format preserving the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TVs Dolby Digital 5.1 Special Features: Production Notes Theatrical Trailer Interactive Menus Video Format: Widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio Standard 1.33:1 (4.3) Enhanced for 16x9 TVs Subtitles: French Spanish English Track Info: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Closed Captioning: Yes # Discs: 1 # Sides: Dual Produced by Steven Seagal Julius R. Nasso; written by Kevin Brodbin; running time of 92 minutes; Closed Captioned. Copyright: 1996 Warner Bros.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS Rating: R UPC: 085391447924

Empire

The lavishly produced six-hour mini-series Empire aspires to capture the flavor and grandeur of Rome--or, failing that, the flavor and grandeur of Gladiator, a highly successful movie about Rome. Most writers, including Shakespeare, use the assassination of Julius Caesar as a climax; Empire opens with it, then follows a fictional gladiator named Tyrranus (Jonathan Cake, Inconceivable) as he protects and substitute-parents Caesar's nephew Octavius (Santiago Cabrera, Love and Other Disasters), fated to be emperor of Rome. Many have complained about how Empire plays fast and loose--very, very loose--with historical truth (the series labored over accurate details while running amok with preposterous turns of plot, ranging from Octavius hiding out in a gladiatorial prison to the emperor-to-be's romance with a rosy-lipped vestal virgin). Of course, Shakespeare did his own embellishing and it worked out fine; alas, the writers of Empire are not our modern Shakespeares. The machinations of Rome play out with cheesy speeches and cornball declamations; even a powerhouse actress like Fiona Shaw (Empire obeys the Hollywood rule that hot-tempered Romans must only be played by emotionally repressed Brits) can't inject fire into this pompous, ponderous dialogue. The scheming between Octavius and Marc Anthony (Vincent Regan, Unleashed) briefly harkens back to the genuinely thrilling duplicities of I, Claudius, but only briefly. Cabrera looks like he'd be more comfortable with the machinations of The O.C.; Cake musters some dignity but in the last few hours does little but grimace, as if wondering where he'd parked his car. The dvd release has reintegrated some unrated, unaired scenes, but don't get your hopes up. The gladiatorial combat has all the finesse and suspense of locker room buddies snapping towels at each other; the lone orgy scene works hard at fleshpottiness, but nothing kills decadence like effort. There are only two extra features: A typically self-lauding making-of doc, accompanied by a demonstration of how Rome was assembled in a computer. --Bret Fetzer

The epic event of the year comes to DVD in the mini-series EMPIRE. Complete with unrated and extended scenes, EMPIRE is presented for the first time as a seamless feature. The Roman Empire is plunged into chaos when Julius Caesar is assassinated and his power is passed on to his 18-year-old nephew Octavius. With his guardian, former gladiator Tyrannus, Octavius is forced into exile to escape those who wish to sever Caesar's bloodline permanently. Under Tyrannus' tutelage, Octavius prepares to face off against the treacherous Marc Antony and fulfill his destiny as the leader of Rome. EMPIRE boasts "powerful acting," says the Wall Street Journal, with a hot young cast that includes James Frain (24), Colm Feore, Jonathan Cake, Santiago Cabrera, and Emily Blunt. Filmed entirely in scenic Italy, EMPIRE tells the thrilling story of a hero's rise amidst the greed, intrigue, and lust of ancient Rome.~

The Seventh Stream

Brian's Song

Haven

A female journalist accompanies 1000 Jewish prisoners from a Nazi concentration camp to New York and helps them overcome bureaucratic hurdles and prejudice.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: UN
Release Date: 6-SEP-2005
Media Type: DVD

Face Value (True Stories Collection TV Movie)

Face Value is the tragic story of real-life cover girl Marla Hanson whose fledging career is ended abruptly after a vicious knife attack leaves her face scarred for life.Up-and-coming model Marla Hanson (Cheryl Pollack ) moves to New York City to fulfill her dream of becoming a top fashion model. A chance meeting with photographer Eric Warner (Dale Midkiff Pet Sematary) opens doors to opportunities that Marla s only dreamed of until now. With her star on the rise marla decides to move out on her own. Eric introduces her to make artist Steve Rothe (Kirk Baltz Reservoir Dogs) a man with a room to rent and a dark growing obsession for her.As Marla s relationship with Eric blossoms Steve become increasingly jealous. He tells Marla he wants more from their relationship but she refuses his overtures. Steve s continued harassment leads Marla to break her lease and meet with him one final time to retrieve her security deposit. It is the last fateful meeting that will change the course of her life forever.System Requirements:Run Time: 91 mins Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 030306778792 Manufacturer No: DVD7787

Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild has been dismissed more than once as a knockoff of Free Willy. Except for the teaming of a troubled kid and a large mammal in pursuit of the latter's freedom, that comparison is off the mark. Part screwball comedy and part animal-rights drama, the film stars Wil Horneff as Rick, a young, incorrigible teen whose mother (Helen Shaver), a primate researcher, enlists him to help care for a gorilla named Katie. Much to his surprise, Rick bonds with Katie, a lonely simian who yearns for the Africa of her youth and whose expressive range includes a fair amount of sign language. When Katie's coldhearted owner (Peter Boyle) decides to take her back and put her on display at a department store, Rick steals her away and stuffs her in a stolen van--which he then proceeds to drive to Canada hoping his girlfriend's uncle (John C. McGinley), a conspiracy nut, can lead this 800-pound gorilla to freedom. Rick's quixotic mission is not without funny mishaps and even some character-building challenges to the hero's conviction. (A rambunctious, often impolite girl like Katie is not the easiest travel companion.) But the film's final arrival turns out to be much more than one might have expected: a moving testament to the joy and pain of accepting one's destiny. --Tom Keogh

Here there and everywhere else she wants to be is Katie a hilariously playful three-year-old gorilla who knows how to communicate using sign language. But what makes her more special to 14-year-old Rick (Wil Horneff) is that she's his friend. So when Katie is reclaimed by her former owner (Peter Boyle) and penned up as a flea market attarction Rick unlocks the cage and hits the road with his 400-pound pal! Pursued from California to Canada the two share narrow escapes and wide-open excitement. Through it all Katie - whether she's spraying Rick with soda or scarfing down burgers - is having big fun on the run! After all adventure comes naturally when you're Born to Be Wild.Running Time: 100 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085392413522

Born to Be Wild / Alaska / The Amazing Panda Adventure

When your best friend is an 800-pound gorilla, where do you go to set her free? Anywhere she likes! A young boy and an ape who's learned to communicate with sign language hit the road in search of freedom in Born to Be Wild (Disc 1/Side A). Next, Alaska (Disc 1/Side B) is where two sons meet challenges (including a baddie played by Charlton Heston) and an irresistible polar bear while seeking their stranded father. And a 10-year-old American separated from his father in China lives The Amazing Panda Adventure (Disc 2) as he tries to protect an endangered baby panda from poachers. Follow your heart to adventure with these three family favorites.

John Gray Live - Beyond Mars and Venus

Flustered by the frustrating communication style of the opposite sex? You're not alone. But with a little insight and understanding, you can create less stressful, more fulfilling connections with your mate based on the ideas of John Gray -- the best-selling relationship author of all time. John offers valuable insights and tips such as why communication is the key to keeping passion alive, how to score "points" with your mate, and how the sexes differ in coping with stress and their need for support.