North America

Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (IMAX) [Blu-ray]

The majestic beauty of Alaska is displayed masterfully in this film, which was originally presented in IMAX theaters and received an Academy Award(r) nomination for Best Documentary in 1998. The landscape of Alaska is shown in magnificent aerial shots, and "white thunder," the spectacular sight when enormous icebergs break off from glaciers, is shown in exquisitely sharp footage. As might be expected, much of the film is devoted to Alaska's abundant wildlife, including moose, bears, seals, wolves, caribou, musk oxen, and whales. The narration, delivered by actor Charlton Heston, provides informative background on the animals, but the star of the film is always the stunning camera work. An underwater shot taken in the midst of dozens of diving seals is particularly memorable, and scenes of humpback whales breaching on the surface are simply spectacular. Bears fight each other over the best fishing spots, and even their prey, the salmon swimming upstream, are featured in an underwater montage showing their life cycle. Animals that actually welcome the Alaskan winter, polar bears, are shown as they search the snowy landscape for prey. And a traditional whale hunt by an Inuit tribe is shown. This film is intelligently produced, and the astounding quality of the photography makes it a true treat for the eyes. --Robert J. McNamara

Go far beyond even the highest definition with this Academy Award nominee for Best Short Documentary. Originally presented in IMAX Theaters, Alaska Spirit of the Wild is a visual masterpiece.

Tripping the Rift: The Movie

What begins for Chode and crew as a routine mission to protect a pissed-off princess will soon become a filth- splattered saga of dismembered royalty indestructible clown assassins and desperately horny housewives. What vile act has Chode committed to bring down the ultimate wrath of Bobo? Can Gus Six T nuk Whip and Bob stop a time-traveling killing machine from ruining a booze-soaked birthday party? How much does a lap- dance cost at the Grope-A-Cabana on Omicron 9? The voices of Stephen Root Maurice LaMarche Jenny McCarthy John Melendez Gayle Garfinkle and Rick Jones star in this all-new feature length movie packed with plenty of sex violence and &^%!#* too extreme for broadcast TV!System Requirements:Running Time: 75 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 013131516890 Manufacturer No: DV15168

They're rude, crude, and thoroughly unrespectable. And now, the crew of the Jupiter 42 is uncensored in Tripping the Rift: The Movie, the first feature-length adventure from the popular Canadian animated series. By "uncensored," the producers mean that the gloves are off in regard to language and sexual innuendo, though nudity remains off the table (a disappointment, one might assume, for admirers of Rift's voluptuous android, Six of Nine, who's voiced by Jenny McCarthy). And the added level of raunch does boost the level of laughs in this occasionally lightweight story, which has Captain Chode (Stephen Root) and his crew serving as bodyguards for a hideous princess while avoiding a clown-faced robot assassin. The series' penchant for knocking (or paying tribute to) pop-culture touchstones gets a workout here, with nods to Young Frankenstein (the black-and-white animation looks terrific), The Terminator, and even Desperate Housewives. The endless riffing and sophomoric humor wears thin after a while, but series fans should find it all to their liking. The DVD includes a brief featurette offering interviews with Root, McCarthy, and voice talent Maurice LaMarche and John Melendez, as well as previews for other Anchor Bay titles. --Paul Gaita

Living Landscapes HD The World's Most Beautiful Places [Blu-ray]

The LIVING LANDSCAPES series offers high-definition photography of the world's most beautiful places set to atmospheric surround-sound music for a relaxing armchair experience.System Requirements:Running Time: 75 Mins.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: MISCELLANEOUS/SPECIAL INTEREST UPC: 741319475669 Manufacturer No: LLWMP-BR

A Wrinkle in Time

Director John Kent Harrison's imaginative film adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's 1963 A Wrinkle in Time may not be able to fully satisfy the immense expectations of those decidedly loyal to L'Engle's book, yet delivers a family thriller impressive enough to stand on its own merits. Katie Stuart plays Meg Murry, the introverted, intelligent oldest child of Dr. Jack Murry, an astrophysicist who has suddenly disappeared without a trace. As Meg struggles with her father's absence and her own coming-of-age awkwardness, she tightens her bond with Charles Wallace (David Dorfman), her brilliant, eccentric 6-year-old brother. When a trio of celestial beings summons them to find their father, the children are joined by neighbor Calvin O'Keefe (Gregory Smith) to embark on a dangerous journey of time travel. They "tesseract" onto the planet Camazotz where Dr. Murry is being held prisoner by an evil force. The film retains the essence of the novel, and deftly employs its 128-minute running time to build viewer affinity for the heroic children. The special effects will not disappoint, though the climatic last battle should have held closer to the book. Stuart is exemplary as the understated and deeply reflective Meg, while Dorfman dazzles as conflicted Charles Wallace. (Ages 8 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Madeleine L'Engle's best-selling and beloved Newbery Award-winning novel bursts to life in a spectacular family film that TV Guide calls "a charming and imaginative film." When astrophysicist Dr. Jack Murry disappears without a trace, his children, Meg and Charles Wallace, and neighbor Calvin O'Keefe embark on a cosmic quest to find him. Guided by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, the children travel to a distant planet and encounter a society controlled by an evil force. They must trust themselves and one another if they are to rescue Dr. Murry and return home safely. Enjoy the nonstop excitement and adventure of A WRINKLE IN TIME, starring Academy Award(R)-nominated actress Alfre Woodard (1984 Best Supporting Actress, CROSS CREEK) and teen idol Gregory Smith from TV's EVERWOOD. It's an amazing journey your family will want to take over and over again.

Thicker Than Water

Timeless... A National Parks Odyssey (IMAX)

Aerial cinematography, gorgeous landscapes and new age music all come together in this feast for the eyes and ears. TIMELESS: A NATIONAL PARK ODYSSEY captures the photography techniques of David Fortney and the music of Patrick O'Hearn to surround the soothing visuals provided by some of the best national parks.

System Requirements:

Hawaii: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, And the Big Island

Heavenly Hawaii

HEAVENLY HAWAII (DVD MOVIE)

America's National Parks

Visit all 55 American National Parks and see why each is treasured as an irreplaceable part of our national legacy. From Alaska and Hawaii to Florida and Maine, this unique collection celebrates the protected wilderness areas and the amazing recreational opportunities offered by our national parks. No two vistas are alike in this stunning program, but every park has one thing in common. Each of them is a living symbol of the untamed American spirit. Disc 1 - American Samoa; Arches; Biscayne; Bryce Canyon; Canyonlands; Carlsbad Caverns; Crater Lake; Denali; Everglades; Glacier; Glacier Bay; Grand Canyon; Grand Tetons; Great Basin; Great Smoky Mountains; Haleakala; Hawaii Volcanoes; Lake Clark; Mount Rainier; North Cascades; Olympic; Redwood; Rocky Mountains; Saguaro; Virgin Islands; Yellowstone; Yosemite; Zion Canyon. Disc 2 - Acadia; Badlands; Big Bend; Black Canyon/Gunnison; Capitol Reef; Channel Islands; Death Valley; Dry Tortugas; Gates of the Artic; Guadalupe Mountains; Hot Springs; Isle Royale; Joshua Tree; Katmai; Kenai Fjords; King's Canyon; Kobuk Valley; Lassen Volcanic; Mammoth Cave; Mesa Verde; Petrified Forest; Sequoia; Shenandoah; Theodore Roosevelt; Voyageurs; Wind Cave; Wrangell-St. Elias.

Sacred Planet

This 40-minute world travelogue made for IMAX theaters focuses on the few remaining people who still live close to the land. Narrator Robert Redford mentions we should listen to these folks since, as the movie seems to insist, they have some inner peace the rest of civilization does not (represented by sped-up clips of urban life à la Koyaanisqatsi). Certainly their worlds look lavish: the deserts America, the rain forests of Borneo, the rocky shorelines of Alaska, the plains of Africa. As IMAX documentaries go, this is one of the thinnest, and since you lose the impressive vistas from the gigantic IMAX screen (unless you have a monitor the size of a house), it works better as a diversion. Other films have stated this message more effectively and entertainingly. --Doug Thomas

SACRED PLANET is a journey away from the hectic "world" we live in. Through stunning cinematography, it transports you to some of the most fascinating, exotic, and remote sites on Earth, giving you new insights into her diverse landscapes, peoples, and animals. You'll be mesmerized by the beauty of these all-but-forgotten faraway places, the majesty of the creatures who live there, and the wisdom of the elders who hold the knowledge of the past. This magical around-the-world odyssey is an awe-inspiring wonder the entire family will enjoy.