DVDs

New Releases on DVD – March 2008

Richelle

August Rush
A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter one magical night above New York’s Washington Square. They are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York City and cared for by a mysterious stranger, August uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth. Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams, William Sadler. Rated PG

Atonement
In 1935, a 13-year-old girl irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. Cast: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, Vanessa Redgrave. Based on the novel by Ian McEwan. Rated R

Bee Movie
In this animated feature film, a bee with a life ambition to make honey decides to sue humans for eating his product. Featured voices: Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Barry Levinson, Larry King, Ray Liotta, Sting, Oprah Winfrey, Larry Miller, Megan Mullally, Rip Torn. Rated PG

Beowulf
In a mystical time of monsters, demons and dragons, one man heroically rises above all others –his name is Beowulf. Cast: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, Angelina Jolie. Based on the epic poem Bewoulf. Rated PG-13

Chaos
After a deadly bank heist, Detectives Quentin Conners and Shane Dekker are drawn into a mysterious case where nothing is what it seems. Pulling the strings is a criminal mastermind who seems to kill without warning or reason. Abound with random acts of violence and deception, the only hope for survival is finding an order to the chaos. Cast: Jason Statham, Ryan Phillippe, Wesley Snipes, Justine Waddell, Henry Czerny. Rated R

Dan in Real Life
Dan Burns is a local newspaper advice columnist. He has three daughters and is a widower. Things get complicated when he finds out that the woman he falls in love with is actually his brother’s new girlfriend. Cast: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt, Dianne Wiest. Rated PG-13

Death at a Funeral
As the mourners and guests at a British country manor struggle to “keep a stiff upper lip,” a dignified ceremony devolves into a no-holds-barred debacle of misplaced cadavers, indecent exposure, and shocking family secrets. Cast: Ewen Bremner, Peter Dinklage, Matthew Macfadyen, Kris Marshall, Alan Tudyk. Rated R

Enchanted
The beautiful princess Giselle is banished from the animated land of Andalasia by the evil queen. She finds herself in the gritty streets of the real, modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that does not operate on a “happily ever after” basis, Giselle find herself adrift in a chaotic world that is badly in need of enchantment. Giselle begins to fall in love with the cynical, no-nonsense divorce lawyer who has come to her aid. Little does he realize that this joyful, wide-eyed innocent is about to enchant him. Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon.PerformerNarrator, Julie Andrews ; voices: Jeff Bennett, Kevin Lima, Teala Dunn. Rated PG

Fierce People
Fierce People takes an inside look at the upper classes, examining the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of good manners. This unflinching drama exposes the trappings of wealth and privilege, and their overwhelming power to seduce and corrupt. Cast: Diane Lane, Anton Yelchin, Donald Sutherland, Kristen Stewart, Elizabeth Perkins, Paz De la Huerta and Chris Evans. Based on the book by Dirk Wittenborn. Rated R

I Am Legend
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the last human survivor in what is left of New York City. A pandemic has left only 1% of the population alive and most of those who survived are no longer human. The infected, now lurking in the shadows, watch Neville’s every move. Perhaps mankind’s last, best hope, Neville is driven by the only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. Based on the novel by Richard Matheson. Rated PG-13

Into the Wild
Inspired by a true story, Christopher McCandless is a young man who abandons his life of comfort to pursue the freedom of life on the road, a quest that leads him to the Alaskan wilderness and the ultimate challenge of his life. Cast: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook. Based on the book by Jon Krakauer. Rated R

The Kite Runner
As young boys living in Afghanistan, Amir and Hassan were inseparable friends, until one fateful act tore them apart. Years later, Amir will embark on a dangerous quest to right the wrongs of the past. Cast: Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Shaun Toub, Atossa Leoni, Saïd Taghmaoui. Based on the book by Khaled Hosseini. Rated PG-13

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium owns the most amazing store in the world, where all the toys literally come to life. When the boss decides to retire, the shop throws a tantrum, and all its wonders begin to cease. Now Mr. Magorium’s reluctant manager, skeptical accountant, and most loyal customer must work together to save the emporium by finding a little magic within themselves. Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills. Rated G

No Country for Old Men
Llewelyn Moss is a Vietnam vet who could use a break. One morning while hunting antelope, he spies several trucks surrounded by dead bodies. He decides to examine the site. He finds a case filled with $2 million and a truck loaded with heroin. Moss takes it with him, tells his wife he’s going away for awhile, and hits the road until he can determine his next move. On his the way from El Paso to the Mexican border, he discovers he’s being followed by ex-special ops agent Chigurh. Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin. Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy. Rated R

The Seeker
During Christmas break from school, a seemingly typical teenager discovers that he is anything but ordinary. As the seventh son of a seventh son, Will Stanton is The Seeker – a chosen warrior destined to restore the delicate earthly balance between Light and Dark. Guided by ancient protectors of the Light, young Will must travel through time to gather the hidden signs that hold the ultimate power to protect the world. Rated PG

Snow Buddies
The talking puppies are back, and this time they venture to the frosty arctic and team up with new friends in an exciting dogsled race across Alaska. When the going gets tough, the daring dogs have to band together with their new friends, Talon and Shasta, and muster up the courage to face the fur-raising challenges ahead. But will the puppies have what it takes to win the race and find their way back home? Voices: Kris Kristofferson, Josh Flitter, Henry Hodges, Liliana Mumy, Jimmy Bennett, Skyler Gisondo, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Everett Scott, Molly Shannon, Dylan Sprouse, Lothaire Bluteau Paul Rae, Jim Belushi. Rated G

Sweeney Todd
Reinventing himself as Sweeney Todd, a man unjustly sent to prison returns to exact revenge on those who ruined his life, especially the evil Judge Turpin who sent the man to prison. Not only does he seek revenge for the cruel punishment he suffered in prison, but also for what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to his home town, he reopens his barber shop, where Mr. Todd becomes the Demon of Fleet Street. Mrs. Lovett is Sweeney’s amorous accomplice who creates diabolical meat pies out of the remains of Mr. Todd’s victims. Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen. Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler and the musical adaptation by Christopher Bond. Rated R

Talk to Me
Washington, D.C., in the mid-to-late 1960s, vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combining to become a unique and powerful effect. It was the place and time for Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene, Jr. to fully express himself and “tell it like it is.” With the support of his irrepressible and tempestuous girlfriend Vernell, the new ex-con talks his way into an on-air radio gig. He forges a friendship and a partnership with Dewey Hughes. From the first wild morning on the air, Petey relies on the more straight-laced Dewey to run interference at WOL-AM, where Dewey is the program director. At the station, Petey quickly becomes an iconic radio personality. Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey openly courts controversy for station owner E.G. Sonderling. Petey was determined to make not just himself but his community heard during this turbulent period in American history. As Petey’s voice, humor, and spirit surge across the airwaves with the vitality of the era, listeners tune in to hear not only incredible music but also a man speaking directly to them about race and power in America. Through the years, Petey’s style, on- and off-air – would redefine both Petey and Dewey, and empower each to become the man he would most like to be. Cast: Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Mike Epps, Martin Sheen. Rated R

Things We Lost in the Fire
Audrey Burke is reeling from the news that her husband has been killed in a random act of violence. Once anchored by the love and comforts of their marriage, Audrey is now adrift. Impulsively, she turns to Jerry, a down-and-out addict who has been her husband’s close friend since childhood. Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alison Lohman, Omar Benson Miller, John Carroll Lynch. Rated R

New DVDs: Feature Length Films and TV Series – March 2008

Richelle

The Bostonians
Olive, a militant suffragette, takes on the education of Verena, a brilliantly gifted but naive young girl. Olive wants to mold and use this gift for the feminist cause. But Verena is also loved by Basil Ransom, an impecunious young lawyer with views strenuously opposed to the Boston feminists. This 1984 production features Christopher Reeve, Vanessa Redgrave, Madeleine Potter, Jessica Tandy, Nancy Marchand, and Linda Hunt. Based on the novel by Henry James.

Buffalo Girls
Calamity Jane romances Wild Bill Hickok, befriends madam, and joins Wild West show in sprawling mini-series featuring Anjelica Houston, Melanie Griffith, Gabriel Byrne and Sam Elliott.
Comanche Moon
Texas Rangers Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call are now young men dealing with the ever increasing tensions of adult life– Gus with his great love, Clara, and Call with Maggie, the young prostitute who is in love with him. McCrae and Call join a Ranger troop in pursuit of three outlaws: Comanche Chief Buffalo Hump, Comanche horse thief Kicking Wolf and Ahumado, the deadly Mexican bandit king with a penchant for slow torture. Together, they struggle to protect an advancing western frontier against the defiant Comanches who are determined to defend their territory and their way of life. Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry. Originally broadcast as a television mini-series in 2008. A prequel to the mini-series Lonesome Dove. Cast: Val Kilmer, Steve Zahn, Karl Urban, Linda Cardellini, Elizabeth Banks, Adam Beach, Rachel Griffiths, Wes Studi, Jonathan Joss, Sal Lopez.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Sixth Season
The sixth season of critical darling HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm delivers the same Larry David and his life of absurd self-sabotage that has entertained viewers for nearly a decade. Cast: Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Wanda Sykes, Susie Essman, Richard Lewis, Viveca A. Fox. Originally broadcast as individual episodes of the television program in 2007. Rating: TV-MA.

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle
In 1878, when Mr. Doyle meets the brilliant teacher, Dr. Bell, the young medical student is drawn into a new world of crime investigation. As he assists Bell in solving gruesome police cases, Doyle becomes fascinated with his tutor’s uncanny talent for outwitting the most clever criminals. But, one particularly vicious cat-and-mouse game has a different ending. Doyle finds his life completely changed … and even Dr. Bell’s agile mind cannot predict the outcome. Cast: Ian Richardson, Sean Wightman, Robin Laing, Dolly Wells, Charles Dance, Ralph Riach, Aly Bain, Andrew John Tait. Originally released as a motion picture in 2000. MPAA rating: Not rated.

14 Hours
A young man, morally destroyed by his parents not loving him and by the fear of not being capable to make his girlfriend happy, keeps police at bay for fourteen hours while attempting suicide. Cast: Paul Douglas, Richard Basehart, Barbara Bel Geddes, Debra Paget, Grace Kelly, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Keith. Originally released as a motion picture in 1951. Based on a true story written by Joel Sayre in the New Yorker. Not Rated.

Jericho of Scotland Yard 2
Inspector Michael Jericho (Robert Lindsay) is a brilliant detective and a darling of the media. However he is haunted by the memories of his father a policeman whose murder Jericho witnessed as a boy. Never married and alone since his childhood sweetheart left him for another during WWII Jericho is obsessed with his work at Scotland Yard. Yet he finds himself drawn to his beautiful French neighbor Juliette (Aurelie Bargeme)- a prostitute with a tortured past. Set amidst the social upheaval of post-war 1950s London Jericho unravels headline-grabbing mysteries. His diligent team includes faithful friend and colleague Detective Sergeant Clive Harvey (David Troughton) and the ambitious young Detective Constable John Caldicott (Ciaran McMenamin) Originally produced for Mystery! PBS television program in 2005.

Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
The story of the relationship between the young Arthur Conan Doyle and his real-life mentor and noted forensic scientist, Dr. Joseph Bell, as they unite to solve the most baffling murder cases in Victorian Scotland. A 2001 BBC TV production featuring Charles Edwards and Ian Richardson.

The New Adventures of Old Christine: Season 1
Single working mom Christine Campbell has just learned that her ex is dating a much younger woman with the same first name. To avoid any confusion, the new girlfriend is dubbed New Christine, which leaves her with the unfortunate nickname Old Christine. Christine struggles to hold it together as she adjusts to her new nickname, confronts the meanie moms at her son’s private school, jumps back in the dating pool– and gets laughs every misstep of the way. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Clark Gregg, Hamish Linklater, Trevor Gagnon, Emily Rutherford, Tricia O’Kelley, Alex Kapp Horner. Originally broadcast on television in 2006. Contains all 13 episodes from the first season.

Peter and Paul
This 1981 television drama examines the development of the early Christian church and the roles of the apostles Peter and Paul. Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Robert Foxworth, Eddie Albert, Raymond Burr, Jose Ferrer, John Finch.Summary

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
When a beautiful woman claims that her dear husband has disappeared the investigation takes Sherlock Holmes (Robert Stephens) and Dr. Watson (Colin Blakely) to Scotland where – to their surprise – they uncover a plot involving a clandestine society Her Majesty’s Secret Service… and the Loch Ness Monster! But before he can deduce matters to the elementary. Holmes makes an error that may jeopardize the national safety of Britain… and ruin his reputation! Cast: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Geneviève Page, Christopher Lee. MPAA rating: PG13.

Speed
An L.A.P.D. SWAT team specialist is sent to diffuse a bomb that a revenge-driven extortionist has planted on a bus. Until he does, he and a female passenger must keep the bus speeding through the streets of Los Angeles at more than 50 miles per hour or the bomb will explode. Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels. Rated R

Speed 2
A young woman and her boyfriend set out on a luxurious Caribbean cruise liner, but their trip to paradise turns deadly when a lunatic computer genius takes over the boat and sets it on a course for destruction. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe, Temuera Morrison, Glenn Plummer. Rated PG-13

Tin Man
Dorothy Gale, a.k.a. DG, is all grown up and bored. She mopes around working as a waitress and goes to school part time. Before she knows it, she’s back in OZ and on the run from the evil sorceress Azkadellia, her storm troopers and clumsy bats. Along the way she falls in with some strange characters including the brainless Glitches; Raw, a cowardly and psychic lion-man hybrid; and, Wyatt Cain, a cowboy cop from Central City called a ‘tin man’ because of his tin badge. Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Kathleen Robertson, Raoul Trujillo, Callum Keith Rennie, Anna Galvin, Ted Whittall, Richard Dreyfuss. Originally broadcast on the Science Fiction Channel Dec. 2-4, 2007.

Tommy & Tuppence Partners in Crime. Set 1
Tommy & Tuppence Partners in Crime. Set 2
Agatha Christie ‘s husband-and-wife sleuthing team (Francesca Annis and James Warwick) take on a series of short whodunits.

A Touch of Frost Season 6
Award-winning British actor, David Jason, is Jack Frost, a no-nonsense detective whose unorthodox methods fuel the tension between him and his superiors. Based on the novels of R.D. Wingfield.

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance Trilogy
The story of Emma Harte, a bright and ambitious servant girl who overcomes her impoverished Yorkshire beginnings in her quest to become an international retailing magnate and one of the richest women in the world comes full circle when Emma’s granddaughter must struggle against powerful enemies to keep the family’s retail empire from collapsing. Cast: Jenny Seagrove, Liam Neeson, Deborah Kerr, Barry Bostwick, Stephen Collins, James Brolin, Lindsay Wagner, Anthony Hopkins, Stephanie Beacham, Christopher Cazenove.

Everything You Want
When Abby meets Quinn on campus, she faces an awesome dilemma: choose between her oh-so-perfect, but imaginary, boyfriend and this flesh-and-blood reality. Cast: Nick Zano, Shrir Appleby, Alexandra Holden, Orlando Seale, Edie McClurg, Will Friedle. TVPG.

Documentaries and Nonfiction DVDs – March 2008

Richelle

Ancient Rome
This program highlights the Roman Empire’s history, civilization and architecture, including the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon. Featuring graphics, computer animation, and location footage.

Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel
This History Channel program examines the development of the steel industry and the part Andrew Carnegie played in it.

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations Collection 2
Chef and author Anthony Bourdain travels the world sampling local foods and culture.

Art Across the Ages
In this 4 part set from The Teaching Company, Professor Ori Z. Soltes has crafted a course in Western visual art that serves as both a mind-broadening survey and an essential introduction. It is designed to give anyone interested in Western art a firm familiarity with its basics, acquainting you with major artists and styles in various media and providing a broad foundation for deeper exploration.

Black Gold: The Story of Oil
Originally produced as an episode of the television program Empires of industry on the History Channel, a fascinating history of the petroleum industry in the U.S. DVD 665.5 BLA 2005

Egypt’s Golden Empire
This episode of PBS’s Empires series examines 500 years of Egyptian history, from 1567 B.C. to 1085 B.C., via the preserved letters and personal accounts of pharaohs and ordinary citizens.

Empires in the Americas
This fascinating program highlights the amazing parallels between the two great American societies of the Aztecs and the Incas — two nations doomed to violent destruction.

The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Presents the story of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica, in which 27 men found themselves stranded in the ice for 635 days.

Europe to the Max: Alpine Secrets
Several episodes of Rudy Maxa’s populat video travel program: includes: Bologna and Emilia Romagna, Italy’s Veneto and Dolomites, Switzerland and the Alps, and Alpine Christmas.

Europe to the Max: Great Cities of Europe
Several episodes of Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features many different cities in Europe, including: Barcelona and Costa Brava, Madrid, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.

Europe to the Max: Mysteries of Greece and Rome
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: including: Athens and Delphi, the Greek Islands, and more.

Europe to the Max: Romantic Germany and Beyond
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features Germany’s Romantic Road, Rhine and Mosel River, Prague and Budapest, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.

Europe to the Max: Splendors of France
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features France’s Champagne Region, Normandy, Carcassonne, the Pyrenees, and more.

Europe to the Max: Treasures Outside London
Selections from Rudy Maxa’s popular video travel program: features Dublin and Beyond, Ireland’s West Coast, Bath, South Wales, Edinburgh and Scotland.

Fat to Firm Fitness Ball Workout for Dummies
This workour DVD offers step-by-step instructions of 15 exercises that work the entire body. It also ten rules for healthy living, an excerpt from the book Dieting for dummies.

15-Minute Workouts for Dummies
Step-by-step instructions for 26 toning and shaping exercises

The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, charts the rise, glory, demise, and legacy of ancient Greece, focusing on prominent figures of the times including Cleisthenes, Themistocles, Pericles, and Socrates. Includes comments from scholars.

The James Bond Story
This documentary looks at the different characterizations each actor has bought to the role of James Bond. It also traces the character back to its origin, the Bond novels by Ian Fleming. Features interviews and film clips.

Jeff Dunham Arguing with Myself
A recorded live performance of ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, portrays a comedian whose revival of an old-fashioned art has made ventriloquism more relevant to modern societal concerns. Starring his six main characters, from Bubba Jay, a Nascar-obsessed hick, to Peanut, a flamboyant gay monkey.

Jeff Dunham Spark of Insanity
Ventriloquist Dunham welcomes two never-before-seen partners “Achmed the Dead Terrorist,” and “Melvin the Superhero.” Long-time favorites “Peanut,” “Walter” and Jose Jalapeno are back in an entirely original show taped at the historic Warner Theater in Washington D.C.

Live to Tell about It: Self Defense Techniques
Learn simple self-defense techniques to help prevent sexual assault, assault at gunpoint, assault at knifepoint, domestic violence and more. Taught by a woman for women.

The Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical centers in the country, and GAIAM, the health and wellness experts, team up to present this series of integrated health action plans on DVD.
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Athritis
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Back Pain
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Diabetes
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Fibromyalgia
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Heart Health
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for High Blood Pressure
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Insomnia
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Menopause
Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Weight Loss

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, tells the tale of one family’s ambition and of Europe’s struggle to emerge from the ravages of the Dark Ages. The Medici used charm, skill and ruthlessness to garner unparalleled wealth and power, ruling Europe for more than 300 years.

Monarchy Set 2
David Starkey continues his multi-part examination of the English throne, with five episodes covering nearly 250 years, from Charles II to Victoria. Replete with infidelities, betrayals, and rivalries, English history emerges as a compelling family saga.

My Favorite Universe
The Great Courses series pesents lectures by Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson based on essays written by him for Natural History magazine.

No End in Sight
An insider’s look at the decisions that led to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the handling of the occupation. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officials, as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers and prominent analysts. Examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy helped to create the insurgency and chaos that Iraq faces today.

Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming is a unique documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American troops through their written words. Interviews and dramatic readings by such actors as Robert Duvall, Josh Lucas, Beau Bridges, Blair Underwood, Justin Kirk, Aaron Eckhart, Chris Gorham, and John Krasinski, transform selections from this collection of writing into a deep examination of life on the front lines. At the same time the film provides depth and context to these experiences through a broader look at the universal themes of war literature. The writing in Operation Homecoming covers: poetry, fiction, memoirs, letters, journals, and essays. Originally broadcast as a segment of the PBS television series, America at a Crossroads.

The Roman Empire in the First Century
This episode of the PBS series, Empires, tells the story of the emperors, slaves, poets, and peasants who wrested order from chaos, built the most cosmopolitan society the world had ever seen, and shaped the Roman Empire in the First Century. DVD 937 ROM 2005

Rome and Pompeii
Imagine being among the bloodthirsty thousands at a gladiator bout in the Colosseum, or at the chariot races in the Circus Maximus. Think of yourself among the decadent few in the ancient baths, theatres, temples, or palaces. Be an eyewitness to the burning of Nero’s Rome. See the devastation caused by Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. Meet the ancients, experience their daily customs, and visit the imperial cities of Rome and Pompeii as they appeared 2,000 years ago. This program makes it all possible through computer recreations and a renowned team of Italian archeologists and historians

Secrets of Lost Empires: Inca
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to an archaeological site where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Explore the magnificent mountainside citadels – and marvel as villagers create a 150-foot suspension bridge using nothing but grass.

Secrets of Lost Empires: Pyramid, Obelisk
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to an archaeological site where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Face the challenge of quarrying, chieseling, hauling, and mounting an obelisk – using stones, ropes, logs and dirt.

Secrets of Lost Empires: Stonehenge; Colosseum
Uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations as NOVA journeys to two archaeological sites where teams of experts use traditional techniques to test their hypotheses. Watch a band of experts move, raise, and cap a structure like the mysterious Stonehenge – armed with Stone Age tools.

Shaping Up with Weights for Dummies
Demonstrates how to perform twelve dumbbell exercises for toning the upper and lower body as well as burning calories.

Superstring Theory: The DNA of Reality
From the Teaching Company, twenty-four lectures delivered by Professor S. James Gates, Jr., University of Maryland at College Park.

True Life Adventures. Volume 4. Nature’s Mysteries
Disney’s acclaimed, groundbreaking nature series captures the wonder of animals and nature.

War Planes of World War II
During World War II, many men and women worked to build war planes for the military. Some companies which changed from commercial to military aircraft were Boeing, Lockheed, and McDonnell Douglas.

Feature Length Films – February 2008

Richelle

Agony and the Ecstacy
Michelangelo and Pope Julius II Charleton Heston and Rex Harrison) have many disagreements in interpreting Biblical stories while the creative genius paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Based on the novel by Irving Stone. Not Rated

City Slickers
Three friends going through various degrees of midlife crisis sign up for a two-week cattle drive in an effort to set their lives back on course. Cast: Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Patricia Wettig, Helen Slater, Jack Palance. Rated PG-13

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold
Two best friends and a third friend’s brother revisit the wild west, encountering the nasty brother of their dead friend Curly, who recruits them on a treasure hunt. Cast: Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Jon Lovitz, Jack Palance. Rated PG-13

Clear and Present Danger
CIA official Jack Ryan Harrison Ford) finds himself in the middle of a South American drug revolution, covertly backed by the White House. Based on the novel by Tom Clancy. Rated PG-13

Diamonds Are Forever
A power-hungry villain organizes a diamond smuggling operation to equip his deadly space satellite. The unflappable British agent (Sean Connery) foils the bad guy. Rated PG

Disclosure
A businessman (Michael Douglas) finds himself in an awkward position when his ex-girlfriend (Demi Moore) becomes his superior. Rated R

Dr No
Agent 007 Sean Connery) is sent to Jamaica to investigate the murder of a fellow spy. Rated PG

Dreamcatcher
Four boys gain telepathic powers after performing a heroic act. Decades later, they reunite for a hunting trip in the Maine woods, but find themselves in a blizzard, fighting an evil force. Based on a Stephen King novel. Rated R

The Europeans
A sophisticated European brother and sister turn up unexpectedly on the doorstep of their staid American cousins. The fortune-hunting Eugenia and her high-spirited brother Felix turn this Puritan world upside down. This 1979 Merchant Ivory Production is based on the novel by Henry James and features: Lee Remick, Robin Ellis, Tim Woodward, Wesley Addy, Lisa Eichhorn, Norman Snow. Not Rated

A Few Good Men
A slick young navy lawyer investigates the death of two marines. Cast: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore. Rated R

For Your Eyes Only
James Bond (Roger Moore) must recover a super-secret electronic decoder from a sunken British spy ship. He is joined by a Greek skin-diving beauty who is after her parents’ killers. Rated PG

The Front Page
This filmversion of the Broadway play finds a burned-out journalist writing one last story at the behest of his cynical editor. What begins as a simple tale soon becomes a slapstick farce as the writer and editor uncover corruption in the judicial system. Cast: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Rated PG

GoldenEye
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) travels to St. Petersburg to recover Goldeneye, a space weapon which destroys everything electronic in its path. Rated PG-13

The Grifters
An experienced con artist (Angelica Houston) comes back into the life of her estranged son (John Cusack) only to find that he has taken up with a woman very much like herself. Rated R

Grumpier Old Men
Two crotchety old friends feud while their kids prepare to get married. Cast: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Rated PG-13

Heat and Dust
A young woman, investigating her great aunt’s love affair with an Indian prince, travels to India herself and, likewise, falls in love with a native man. A Merchant Ivory Production, featuring Julie Christie and Greta Scacchi. Rated R

Hoosiers
A small town Indiana basketball coach (Gene Hackman) with a questionable background and unconventional methods tries to redeem himself by leading a losing high school team to victory. Rated PG

How Stella Got Her Groove Back
A divorced, middle-aged woman (Angela Bassett) surprises herself, as well as her family and friends, when she has an affair with a man (Taye Diggs) half her age. Rated R

Jurassic Park Adventure Pack
The Jurassic Park Trilogy includes: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park: The Lost World; and Jurassic Park III. Rated PG-13

The King of California
An unstable dad (Michael Douglas) who after getting out of a mental institution tries to convince his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) that there’s gold buried under suburbia. Rated PG-13

Licence to Kill
James Bond’s (Timothy Dalton) license to kill is revoked, but this does not deter him from avenging a brutal attack on his CIA friend by a Latin drug lord. Rated PG-13

The Little Prince
A French pilot crashes his airplane in the middle of the Sahara Desert and comes upon a young prince from another planet. The little prince tells the pilot that he is inspecting the universe and stays in the desert long enough to convey to the pilot his impression of the earth and stories of other planets he has visited. This 1974 film is based on the story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and features Richard Kiley, Bob Fosse, Stanley Warner, Gene Wilder. Rated G

Live and Let Die
James Bond (Roger Moore) finds action in the U.S. as he seeks out a heroin operation that menaces the American economy. Rated PG

The Madness of King George
The 18th-century King of England (Nigel Hawthorne) begins to display a sort of dementia, victimizing the Queen (Helen Mirren) and the entire court. Rated PG-13

Magnolia
Residents of the San Fernando Valley endure the ups and downs of familial obligations and romantic relationships. Cast: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, Jason Robards. Rated R

The Man with the Golden Gun
James Bond (Roger Moore) takes on an assassin whose trademark is a golden gun. As usual, Bond uses skill and gadgetry to stop the villain. Rated PG

Mogambo
Vic, a tough-as-nails, lady-killing safari leader, who makes a living capturing animals for American zoos, is no match for two untamed creatures: a tough New York woman and the fetching wife of a dorky anthropologist. John Ford directed this 1953 film featuring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly. Not Rated

Moonraker
James Bond (Roger Moore) searches for a missing space shuttle. Fully loaded with fancy gadgets, action-packed suspense, a killer score, delicious eye-candy, and much-acclaimed special effects. Oh, and martinis. Rated PG-13

Never Say Never Again
In this 1983 installment of the Bond series, 007 (Sean Connery) battles an arch-villain who hijacks two cruise missiles and holds the world hostage. Rated PG

Octopussy
James Bond (Roger Moore) struggles with a Soviet general who attempts to start WWIII between the superpowers. Rated PG

Regarding Henry
A selfish, successful attorney (Harrison Ford) must rediscover his identity, family and career when he is afflicted with amnesia. Rated PG-13

Sleeper
A hapless nerd (Woody Allen) is revived 200 years after being placed in suspended animation and finds himself in a strange world of robots and giant vegetables. Rated PG

Snow Falling on Cedars
In a Pacific Northwest community of the 1950s, a fisherman is on trial for murder. The treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II becomes an integral part of the case. Based on the novel by David Guterson. Rated PG-13

Soul Food
Three sisters (Vanessa Williams, Vivica Fox and Nia Long)attempt to keep the family tradition of Sunday dinner alive when their mother becomes ill. Rated R

The Spy Who Loved Me
James Bond (Roger Moore) teams up with a female Russian agent to squash a villain’s plan to use captured British and Soviet atomic submarines to destroy the world. Rated PG-13

3:10 to Yuma
Van Heflin and Glann Ford star in the 1957 original version of this gripping, critically acclaimed Western about penniless farmer hired to guard killer until train-bound deputies arrive. Not Rated

Thunderball
A NATO bomber with a nuclear payload is hijacked to the Bahamas and secreted under water. British agent 007 (Sean Connery) and U.S. aquanauts do battle with SPECTRE’s forces. Rated PG

Tomorrow Never Dies
British secret agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) races to prevent WWIII at the hands of a power-hungry media mogul. Rated PG-13

2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick’s highly influential mind-bending tale of space travel, mysterious monoliths, and too-smart computers. Plus lots of special effects and an old-school sci-fi look. Not to mention a sinister, passive-aggressive computer named Hal. Rated G

View to a Kill
James Bond (Roger Moore) travels to the United States to stop an evil industrialist from destroying California’s Silicon Valley. Rated PG

Where Angels Fear to Tread
Repressed sexuality and social snobbery of the British upper-class are undone when a widow on vacation dallies with a handsome, young Italian. Relatives and friends hurry from England to “save” her. Cast: Helena Bonham-Carter, Judy Davis, Rupert Graves, Giovanni Guidelli, Barbara Jefford, Helen Mirren. Rated PG

You Only Live Twice
James Bond (Sean Connery) travels to Japan to take on arch-nemesis Blofeld who has been capturing Russian and American spacecraft in an attempt to start WWIII. Rated PG

TV Series – February 2008

Richelle

Alias: the Complete Season 2
Double agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) faces the greatest challenge of her life when her mother, an enemy long thought dead, turns herself in to the CIA.

Alias: the Complete Season 3
The third season of Alias found super spy Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) waking up in Hong Kong with a monster hangover and many unanswered questions.

Boston Legal: Season One
Boston Legal: Season Two
Boston Legal: Season Three
The professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. James Spader, William Shatner, Denny Crane, Candice Bergen.

The Closer: Season 1
The Closer: Season 2
A tough-as-nails detective (Kyra Sedgwick) moves from Atlanta to LA to head up the LAPD’s Priority Murder Squad

Conagher
Evie Teale (Katherine Ross) struggles to raise her two children and run a remote stagecoach station. Conn Conagher (Sam Elliott) is an honest, hardworking cowboy. Their lives are intertwined as they fight the elements, Indians, outlaws, and loneliness. Based on the novel by Louis L’Amour

Crossfire Trail
A wanderer (Tom Selleck) heads for Wyoming to fulfill a promise to protect a dying friend’s widow (Virginia Madsen) and ranch. Based on the novel by Louis L’Amour

Dead Man’s Walk
The prequel to Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove finds Gus and Call on a deadly trail to Santa Fe facing outlaws, bandits, and the notorious Buffalo Hump, a vicious warrior. Cast: David Arquette, F. Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, Brian Dennehy.

Dirt: The Complete First Season Rated TV-MA
As editor-in-chief of Hollywood’s most influential gossip rag, Lucy Spiller (Courtney Cox) can make or break a celebrity, but her obsession with outing the darker side of the glamorous life unleashes the demons of her own past and makes her a victim of the machine she has created.

Fortunes of War
A BBC-TV mini-series that chronicles the lives of an English couple (Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson) living in Bucharest when WWII breaks out. Features . Based on the novels by Olivia Manning.

Hetty Wainthrop Investigates: Complete 4th Series
The BBC’s beloved matron of mystery (Patricia Rutledge) returns to tackle her most challenging cases yet.

The History of Mr. Polly
The legendary H.G. Wells created this fanciful Victorian tale of Alfred Polly, an ordinary man who, rather than pursuing his dreams, follows a conventional path in life and finds himself desperately unhappy.

House M.D.: Season 3
Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) still has the most unapologetically prickly bedside manner ever, but his genius for solving the medical mysteries other practitioners can’t has earned him the respect of his team.

Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Set 5
Detective Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) and Detective Sergeant Havers (Sharon Small), Elizabeth George s crime-cracking duo from opposite sides of the track, are back in four intriguing new mysteries.

Ivanhoe
Set in 12th century England, this sweeping saga follows the noble Saxon knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe and his bloody battles with the scheming Prince John as he attempts to restore Richard The Lion-Hearted to the throne. A BBC-TV production of Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel.

Longitude
The story of John Harrison, whose forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper is interwoven with that of naval officer Rupert Gould who, two hundred years later, stumbles across Harrison’s inventions. Cast: Michael Gambon, Jeremy Irons, Ian Hart. Based on the book by Dava Sobel.

Mansfield Park
Masterpiece Theatre’s most recent production of Jane Austen’s classic novel. Fanny Price goes to live with prosperous relatives at Mansfield Park and must navigate a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among the occupants of the house.

Most Mysterious Murder
This BBC series is hosted by Julian Fellowes, a British character actor and screenwriter. Each episode follows the tale of a real, unsolved English murder, occurring between the 1870s and 1940s, acted out with smashing period detail and dialogue. Fellowes narrates, helps spotlight possible suspects, and in the end makes his own case for who he thinks the murderer was.

Northanger Abbey
In this gentle parody of gothic fiction, young Catherine Morland (Felicity Jones) is invited to a medieval country house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies. Andrew Davies adapted this new Masterpiece Theater production of Jane Austen’s classic novel.

Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show
Garry Shandling wraps up the run of his groundbreaking HBO comedy series with 23 of what he felt were the best episodes of the show’s run (from 1992-98) along eight hours of newly produced material, including a feature-length “making of” documentary, cast and star interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries, and footage of Shandling on personal visits with stars like Alec Baldwin, Jon Stewart, and Jerry Seinfeld.

The Pallisers: Set One
This sprawling BBC saga of wealth, passion, power, intrigue and scandal is set in the palatial country houses and grand Mayfair salons of mid-Victorian England. Based on the six “political” novels by Anthony Trollope.

Persuasion
Masterpiece Theatre’s most recent adaptation of Jane Austen’s romantic novel tells the story of Anne Elliot who eight years prior, at the age of 19, fell deeply in love with the handsome young naval officer Frederick Wentworth. But with neither fortune nor rank to recommend him, Anne was persuaded to break off her engagement. When he returns from sea with a fortune and rank, she watches as the eligible young women in the district fall at his feet.

Piece of Cake
This British TV series features the adventures, heartaches and rites of passage of the fighter pilots of RAF Hornet Squadron during World War II.

Poirot: Set 11
Three episodes of the impeccably turned-out diminutive Belgian sleuth (David Suchet) created by Agatha Christie.

Prison Break: Season 2
Most men would do anything to get out of jail, but Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) will do anything to get in.

Alex Haley’s Queen
Author Alex Haley’s story of the paternal side of his family. One of his ancestor’s, Queen (Halle Berry), is the daughter of a slave and a plantation owner during the turbulent decades of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and beyond. Cast includes: Ann-Margret, Patricia Clarkson, Tim Daly, Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, Jasmine Guy, Jane Krakowski, Martin Sheen, Paul Winfield.

The Riches: Season One
Wayne and Dahlia Malloy (Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver) are travelers–a kind of American gypsies–who get in trouble with their clan and have to hit the road with their three kids. When a confrontation with other travelers causes a deadly car accident, the Malloys assume the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Rich. Rated TV-MA

The Scarlet Pimpernel
A&E’s acclaimed adaptation of Baroness Orczy’s classic tales of love and adventure during the French Revolution. This multi-disc set includes all three adventures in the series and features Richard Grant and Elizabeth McGovern.

Shackleton
A&E TV’s true story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic adventures. Bound for Antarctica in 1914, Shackleton’s (Kenneth Branagh) ship, the Endurance, was trapped in the pack ice of the Weddell Sea.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII
This BBC TV series from 1970 chronicles England’s turbulent years of the early 16th century, recounting the life and times of the vibrant and lusty King Henry VIII in a cycle of six plays.

A Slight Case of Murder
Laura Penney accidentally fell in her apartment and died. Or perhaps she was pushed. Just a little. Either way, on-air film critic Terry Thorpe figures he’s Suspect #1 because he was there. But maybe he’s seen enough crime movies to bamboozle the cops. Cast: William H. Macy, Adam Arkin, Felicity Huffman, James Cromwell.

Streets of Laredo
This sequel to Larry McMurtry’s western classic Lonesome Dove pits legendary Texas Ranger Woodrow Call against his deadliest adversary ever. Cast: James Garner, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Randy Quaid, Ned Beatty, George Carlin, Sonia Braga.

Tom Jones
This BBC production follows the rollicking adventures of Tom Jones as he romps across 18th century England, from bedrooms to rural inns to London’s dangerous streets. Cast out from his home and forbidden his true love, Tom must overcome the charms of an older seductress and the sinister plot of a nefarious rival to win his lover’s heart. Based on the novel by Henry Fielding.

A Touch of Frost: Season 5
A Touch of Frost: Seasons 7 & 8
A Touch of Frost: Seasons 9 & 10
A Touch of Frost: Seasons 11 & 12
Award-winning British actor David Jason is Jack Frost, a no-nonsense detective whose unorthodox methods fuel the tension between him and his superiors. Based on the novels of R.D. Wingfield.

The Tudors: The Complete First Season
King Henry VIII: young, sexy and the most powerful man in the world (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). The throne and the entire world became his at age 19. This Showtime television series reveals the early years of the passionate, vibrant and scandalous man who forever changed the course of history. Rated TV-MA

Victoria & Albert
The moving romantic story of two lovers who create an intimate private world amidst the pomp and politics of the court of St. James. This miniseries shows us a Victoria that we have never seen before–not the staid and stately old matron cloaked in black–but a young, passonate, sensual Victoria who takes command of the throne and falls head over heels in love with the dashing German prince

A Year in Provence
Based on Peter Mayle’s international best seller, this is the hilarious autobiographical account of the Mayles’ move from London to rural southern France. This twelve-episode miniseries was originally shown on PBS and features Lindsay Duncan and John Thaw.

Young Ivanhoe
In this pre-quell to Sir Walter Scott’s novel, the Black Knight helps the Saxon hero of Sir Walter Scott’s novel thwart a plot by the greedy Count De Bourget. Cast: Stacy Keach, Margot Kidder, Nick Mancuso & Rachel Blanchard.

New DVD Releases – February 2008

Richelle

Across the Universe
Moving from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village and beyond, the film follows the story of star-crossed lovers Jude and Lucy. Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson. Rated PG-13

American Gangster
A NYC detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, who is smuggling the herion into the country in the coffins of dead soldiers returning from Vietnam. Featuring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, Armand Assante, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, RZA. Rated R

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Robert Ford joins Jesse James’s gang, only to become resentful of the legendary outlaw and hatch a plan to kill the fastest gun in the West. Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Zooey Deschanel, Sam Rockwell. Rated R

Becoming Jane
The true and surprising story of Jane Austen’s early years Her own experiences in love and romance shape the stories she writes later in life. Cast: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith. Rated PG

Beowulf
The warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel, and later, Grendel’s mother, who begins killing out of revenge for her son. Cast: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, Angelina Jolie. Rated PG-13

The Brave One
A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge. Cast: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen. Rated R

Daddy Day Camp
When the pair of fathers/pals, Charlie Hinton and Phil Ryerson, expand their childcare magic to Camp Driftwood — serving up sports, crafts and teaching the kids a thing or two about nature, they discover the camp has everything it needs except a plan to put the bullies of rival Camp Canola to shame. With some quick thinking, teamwork, a secret weapon and some off-the-wall crazy antics, the dads and kids soon become united to remedy the situation. Cast: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lochlyn Munro, Richard Gant, Tamala Jones, Paul Rae, Brian Doyle-Murray. Rated PG

The Darjeeling Limited
Three brothers trying to bond and find themselves on a trip through India end up stranded and alone in the desert. Cast: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston. Rated R

The Dog Problem
After a year in therapy, a down-on-his-luck writer (Giovanni Ribisi) buys a dog in an effort to cheer himself up. But his four-legged friend brings him nothing but trouble. Then the dog goes missing and a comedy of errors ensues. Rated R

Eastern Promises
The film follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai, who is tied to one of London’s most notorious organized crime families. Cast: Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. Rated R

Elizabeth: the Golden Age
An exploration of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh. Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Rhys Ifans, Jordi Molla, Abbie Cornish, Samantha Morton. Rated PG-13

Eye of the Dolphin
After the death of her mother, Alyssa moves to the Bahamas with her father, where she learns she can talk to the dolphins. When her father’s research facility is in danger of closing, it is up to Alyssa and her gift to save it. Rated PG-13

Feast of Love
A meditation on love and its various incarnations, set within a community of friends in Oregon. Cast: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke, Selma Blair, Toby Hemingway, Jane Alexander, Fred Ward. Rated R

Game Plan
A professional football player (The Rock) discovers he has a seven-year-old daughter. Cast: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Morris Chestnut. Rated PG

Gone Baby Gone
The kidnapping of a four-year-old girl draws two private investigators into the seedy underbelly of Boston. Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver. Rated R

The Heartbreak Kid
A newlywed man who believes he’s just married the perfect woman encounters another lady on his honeymoon. Cast: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Jerry Stiller, Rob Corddry, Carlos Mencia, Scott Wilson, Danny McBride. Rated R

The Hunting Party
A young American journalist, cameraman and a discredited journalist go to the Balkans in search of a notorious war criminal in Bosnia. Cast: Richard Gere, Terrence Howard. Rated R

In the Valley of Elah
A couple work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son’s disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq. Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin. Rated R

The Jane Austen Book Club
Six people start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships resemble 21st century versions of her novels. Cast: Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Marc Blucas, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Hugh Dancy, Maggie Grace, Jimmy Smits, Kevin Zegers, Lynn Redgrave. Rated PG-13

The King of California
An unstable dad (Michael Douglas) who after getting out of a mental institution tries to convince his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) that there’s gold buried under suburbia. Rated PG-13

The Kingdom
A team of elite FBI agents are sent to Saudi Arabia to solve a brutal mass murder and find a killer before he strikes again. Cast: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jeremy Piven, Danny Huston, Richard Jenkins. Rated R

The Martian Child
David is a widowed science fiction writer who adopts Dennis, a young boy who claims to be a Martian. David believes the child acts strangely in order to process the difficulty he has had in his young life, but soon both David and his sister, Liz, begin to wonder if the boy might be telling the truth. Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Joan Cusack. Rated PG

Michael Clayton
Burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his divorce, a failed business venture, and mounting debt have left Michael Clayton inextricably tied to his job. Cast: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Michael O’Keefe. Rated R

The Nanny Diaries
A New York University student becomes a nanny to a family who turns out to be the family from hell. Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Alicia Keys, Chris Evans, Donna Murphy, Paul Giamatti. Rated PG

No Reservations
The life of a master chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece and gains a new sous chef in her kitchen. Based on the German film Mostly Martha. Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson. Rated PG

Offside
As citizens of Iran, female sports fans are barred from attending public sports matches. This comedy-drama follows the struggles of a group of young women and girls who dress in drag to get into stadiums and watch their favorite teams play. In Persian, English subtitles. Rated PG

Paris, je taime
The world’s top directors and some of America’s top stars create a panoramic portrait of Paris. Find yourself transported by these sexy, romantic, haunting, dramatic, and beautiful stories. Rated R

Rendition
When an Egyptian terror suspect goes missing on his way to Washington, D.C., his American wife and a CIA analyst find themselves struggling to secure his release. Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Alan Arkin, Meryl Streep. Rated R

Silk
Herve Joncour’s (Michael Pitt) devotion to his beautiful bride (Keira Knightley) is tested by dangerous trade missions in search of silkworms for his town’s survival. In the Far East he becomes torn by the temptation of a local warlord’s sensuous concubine and his love for Helene. Rated R

Snow Buddies
The talking puppies are back, and this time they venture to the frosty arctic and team up with new friends in an exciting dogsled race across Alaska. Rated G

Solstice
Following a setup lifted from every slasher film, five students head off to celebrate “Senior Week” at a spooky old house in the Louisiana woods. Rated PG-13

Sydney White
A retelling of Snow White featuring college freshman (Amanda Bynes) as she makes her way through the Greek system. Rated PG-13

Two Days in Paris
A couple tries to rekindle their relationship with a visit to Paris, home to many of her ex-boyfriends. Cast: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Brühl, Marie Pillet, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Adam Jodorowsky, Alex Nahon. In English and French, with English & Spanish subtitles. Rated R

We Own the Night
A New York nightclub manager tries to save his brother and father from Russian mafia hit men. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall. Rated R

New DVDs – January 2008

Richelle

The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard
This BBC-TV story follows Ros Pritchard (Jane Horrocks), a supermarket manager who tries to improve her world in small ways. Just to prove that she could do better than the established politicians, she runs for a seat in Parliament. No one is more surprised than she when she wins the General Election and becomes the next Prime Minister. Not Rated

American President
The widowed President of the US (Michael Douglas) courts an attractive environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening). His opponent in the upcoming election takes advantage of the situation, playing up the role of “the President’s Mistress.” Rated PG-13

Angel in the Family
An ailing widowed father and his two estranged daughters experience a miracle when their late matriarch returns to spend Christmas with them. Cast: Tracey Needham, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Ronny Cox, Meredith Baxter. Not Rated

The Apocalypse
When the Roman Emperor unleashed a virulent campaign against the Christians in 90 A.D., the apostle John (Richard Harris) struggles to break free of imprisonment and save Christianity from extinction. Not Rated

Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop III
A street-smart Detroit cop (Eddie Murphy) is transplanted in California. All Rated R

 

The Bible Collection:

Abraham
Abraham (Richard Harris) leaves the pagan land of Ur for the promised land of Canaan. Not Rated

David
The story of a simple shepherd boy chosen to be the king of Israel. Not Rated

Jacob
Matthew Modine and Laura Flynn Boyle star in one of the greatest love stories from the Bible. Not Rated

Joseph
Cast into a pit by his jealous brothers, young Joseph pleads for mercy but is sold into slavery in Egypt. Not Rated

Moses
The story of reluctant leader Moses leading the Jews out of bondage in Egypt. Not Rated

Samson and Delilah
A bewitching Philistine betrays the shepherd she loves out of loyalty to her people. Not Rated

 

A Big Hand for a Little Lady
This wonderfully wild western comedy from 1966 features Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, and Burgess Meredith. Not Rated

Body & Soul
This miniseries from 1993 is t moving story of a young nun (Kristen Scott Thomas) in a family crisis who is forced to choose between two conflicting worlds, and the very different values they represent. Not Rated

Brideshead Revisited
In this classic adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel, the life of the British nobility is seen through the eyes of a young Oxford student who befriends the son of aristocrats and becomes one of the family. Cast: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, John Gielgud. Not Rated

The Crown Prince
After entering into an unhappy marriage of convenience, Archduke Rudolf, the young heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne begins a fateful affair with the Baroness Mary Vetsera. cast that includes Klaus Maria Brandauer, Christian Clavier and Omar Sharif. Not Rated

The Crusades: Crescent and the Cross
Using CGI-enhanced visuals and dramatic reenactments, The History Channel brings the key battles of the Crusades to life. See rare locations, including a vast chain of Crusader castles and get a feel of what day-to-day life was like. Not Rated

A Dance to the Music of Time
This miniseries chronicles a half century of British upper-class life through the eyes of protagonist Nicholas Jenkins. Based on the novels by Anthony Powell. Not Rated

The Dark Ages: The Fall of Civilization, The Rise of a New World Orderm DVD 940.1 DAR 2006
Between the Fall of Rome and the dawn of the Renaissance, Europe plunged into a dark night of constant war, splintered sovereignties, marauding pagans, and more. This History Channel production covers the chaos that threatened to cause the demise of European society, as well as other brave souls who fought for peace and enlightenment.

Dial M for Murder
A man plots to murder his wife for her money. The wife manages to stab the would-be attacker, and the husband is forced to change plans. Alfred Hitchcock directed this 1954 suspense classic featuring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. Not Rated

The Dresden Files
Harry Dresden is a private detective who also happens to be a real wizard. Harry finds himself helping the Chicago police solve crimes and battle dark in the city streets. Not Rated

Elizabeth
Palace intrigue mixes with historical drama to tell the life story of Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen who ruled England in the 16th century. Featuring Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush. Rated R

15 Minutes
A crime thriller about a hot-shot homicide detective who teams with a fire marshal to find a pair of media-hungry serial killers. In the meantime, a sensationalist TV-talk-show host courts both sides of the law. Cast: Robert De Niro, Edward Burns, Kelsey Grammer, Avery Brooks. Rated R

Figure Skating: Ladies’ & Pairs DVD 796.912 FIG 2006
Highlights of the Pairs & Ladies’ figureskating at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.

Figure Skating: Men’s & Ice Dancing DVD 796.912 FIG 2006
Highlights from the men’s figure skating and ice dancing at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games.

The Golden Door
Salvatore, a very poor farmer and widower, decides to emigrate to U.S. with his entire family. Italian dialogue, English subtitles. Rated PG-13

Grosse Pointe Blank
A comedy about a hit man, a high school reunion, and the girl he left behind. Cast: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin. Rated R

High Fidelity
Rob Gordon’s record store is semi-failing, and his long-time girlfriend has just walked out on him. In order to figure out where things went wrong, he examines his past relationships with other women. Cast: John Cusack, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Joelle Carter, Joan Cusack, Sara Gilbert. Rated R

The In-Laws
A mild-mannered doctor meets his new in-laws for the first time right before his daughter’s wedding. Things get wild when he discovers they’re CIA operatives. Cast: Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Candice Bergen. Rated PG-13

Istanbul DVD 914.961 IST 2004
This episode from the Globe Trekker series features an exploration of the Topkapi palace, sightseeing at Gallipoli, the site of an infamous World War I battlefield, as well as a tour of Istanbul, with visits to the opulent Pera Palace Hotel, the Grand Bazaar, and the Blue Mosque.

The Last Legion
As invading Goths besiege the crumbling Roman empire, a daring general, a powerful wizard and a master warrior attempt to lead one last legion of faithful soldiers to victory against all odds. Cast: Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai, Peter Mullan, Kevin McKidd, John Hannah, Iain Glen, Thomas Sangster. Rated PG-13

Love’s Unending Legacy
Unable to work the land on her own, Missie LaHaye and her young son move back to her father’s ranch hoping to put the past behind her. Based on the books by Janet Oke, the fifth film in the series directed by Michael Landon, Jr. Not Rated

Mary, Queen of Scots
Vanessa Redgrave was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Mary, the ill-fated Catholic Queen of Scotland. The sharp-edged Glenda Jackson portrays her jealous cousin, Queen Elizabeth I in this critically acclaimed drama from 1971. Not Rated

The Meaning of Food DVD 394012 MEA 2005
This PBS special explores the variety of cultural significance of food among various walks of life in the United States. Topics covered in these three programs include: Italian weddings; Bengali fertility feast; last meals; fasting.

Monarchy with David Starkey DVD 923.1 MON 2006
This British television production features vivid descriptions and analysis of historical personalities with costumed actors, historical locations, and portraits to visually enliven the story of the English crown from the fall of Rome to the 1660s.

Mr. Deeds
When a small town man (Adam Sandler) inherits controlling interest in a media empire, he attempts to use his newfound power to transmit positive messages. Rated PG-13

Mr. Mom
When a Detroit auto engineer (Michael Keaton) loses his job, his wife (Teri Garr) takes up a career in advertising while he takes over running the household. Rated PG

Once upon a Time When We Were Colored
The changes experienced by a rural town in Mississppi are witnessed by a boy coming-of-age in the era of racial segregation and civil rights in the South. Rated PG

The Paper Chase
A moving story of a first-year Harvard Law School student who comes to terms with his dreams in America’s most competitive school. Cast: Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman, Edward Herrmann, James Naughton. Rated PG

Passion of Mind
A woman (Demi Moore) seems to be living parallel lives — one as a single New Yorker and the other as a widowed mother of two. Rated PG-13

Prime Suspect 7 The Final Act
Academy-award winner, Helen Mirren, is featured as Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison in this joint production by Granada television and WGBH Boston. Not Rated

The Quick and the Dead
When a homestead family is threatened by a gunslinging gang, a mysterious stranger (Sam Elliott) rides to their safety. Not Rated

Rome: Season 2
In this HBO drama, the year is 44 B.C. Julius Caesar has been assassinated and civil war threatens to destroy the Republic. Cast: Polly Walker, Ray Stevenson, James Purefoy, Lindsay Duncan, Kevin Mckidd, Ray Stevenson. Rated TV-MA

Ruth Rendell Mystereis: Set 2
This six tales of suspense examines the jealousy, betrayals, and resentments that lead to tragedy. Not Rated

Sleepless in Seattle
A widower’s son calls a talk show about his father’s conviction that love happens only once in a lifetime. Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Rob Reiner and Rosie O’Donnell. Rated PG

The Song of Bernadette
In 1858 a peasant girl sees a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes and incurs local wrath because of her experience. Jennifer Jones starred in the academy award-winning film. Not Rated

These Foolish Things
In 1930s England, a struggling young actress, a fledgling director and an ambitious playwright become embroiled in an emotional love triangle as they strive for recognition, fame and fortune in a world on the brink of World War II. Cast: Joss Ackland, Lauren Bacall, Anjelica Huston, and Terence Stamp. Not Rated

3:10 to Yuma
A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who’s awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. Cast: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, Logan Lerman. Rated R

To Catch a Thief
A reformed thief on vacation in the South of France becomes the prime suspect in a series of robberies. But what he’s really interested in stealing is time with a beautiful American on vacation with her rich mother. Afred Hitchcok directed this thriller featuring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Not Rated

24: Season 6
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has been released after two years in a Chinese prison, but only so he can be handed over to a particularly nasty villain who proposes to trade Jack’s life for the location of the mastermind behind the current reign of terror. That’s only the beginning, of course. Not Rated

Uncovered
An art restorer (Kate Beckinsale) discovers an unresolved murder from centuries ago and realizes that her work triggered a new wave of murders. Rated R

Underground Pittsburgh DVD 974.886 UND 2007
WQED’s Rick Sebak embarks on a tour around the Pittsburgh area to show us what’s hidden underground.

Victor Victoria
An unsuccessful female nightclub vocalist (Julie Andrews) is recast as a man performing as a woman. The trick works, but things get strange when a macho male (James Garner) finds himself attracted to the singer in drag. Rated PG

The Vikings DVD 948 VIK 2006
This PBS NOVA special investigates a new image of the Vikings that goes far deeper than their savage stereotype as raiding marauders. They were expert shipbuilders, superb artisans, canny merchants, and bold colonizers.

Working Girl
A secretary works to advance herself, only to have her best idea appropriated by her boss. Feeling cheated and undervalued, she decides to engineer a big brokerage deal by herself. Cast: Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Melanie Griffith, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack. Rated R

More New DVDs – December 2007

Richelle

Absolute Power
A professional thief witnesses a murder that puts his life in jeopardy when his existence becomes known. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris. Rated R

An Affair to Remember
A shipboard romance conflicts with prior engagements. The lovers (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) postpone their affair and plan to meet later under different circumstances. Rated PG

Batman and Robin
Super heroes Batman and Robin are joined by Batgirl in their fight to save the human race from destruction at the hands of Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy. Cast: George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Elle MacPherson. Rated PG-13

Batman Forever
Batman befriends an acrobat whose family is killed in a tragic circus accident. The young man joins Gotham City’s crime fighter as Robin and together they do battle against Two Face and The Riddler. Cast: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O’Donnell. Rated PG-13

The Bible: Esther
A dramatization of the story of Esther, Queen of Persia. Cast: Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham, Jurgen Prochnow, Thomas Kretschmann. Not Rated

The Bible: Genesis
A dramatization of the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the flood. Not Rated

The Bible: Jeremiah
A dramatization of the story of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah. Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Klaus Maria Barndauer. Not Rated

The Bible: Solomon
A dramatization of the story of Solomon, King of Israel. Cast: Ben Cross, Vivica A. Fox, David Suchet, G.W. Bailey, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Anouk Aimee, Max Von Sydow. Not Rated

The Camden 28
In Camden, New Jersey, a group of 28 Vietnam War protesters plan to break into a local draft board office and destroy records during the summer of 1971. Little do they know that a mole has been planted in their group. Not Rated

Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
This film presents an authentic account of the Vietnam War taken from the letters of the men and women who served over there. This film includes newsreel and home-movie footage shot by the servicemen themselves. Rated PG-13

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower
In this docudrama the Pilgrims story is explored including: their self-imposed exile in Holland, their crossing of the Atlantic, their first year in the new world and how they came to live and prosper in an unfamiliar land.

The Devil’s Advocate
Hotshot attorney Kevin Lomax’s 64-0 case record has brought him a tempting offer from an elite New York firm. But the job Lomax accepts isn’t what it seems. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Judith Ivey. Rated R

Dexter: The First Season
Dexter Morgan is a Miami police forensics expert who moonlights as a serial killer of criminals who he believes have escaped justice. From Showtime and based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. Not Rated

Die Hard
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Bruce Willis stars as New York cop, John McClane in this series of action films. All Rated R

The French Revolution
This History Channel documentary uses a combination of reenactment, commentary from scholars, and narration, to explores the turbulent years of the French Revolution. Not Rated

The Good The Bad and The Ugly
A bounty hunter, a crook, and an Army sergeant scramble to find a fortune in gold hidden in a coffin. Their uneasy alliance is tested by the vicissitudes of war. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffre. Rated R

High Society
In this sophisticated musical comedy, the society wedding of the beautiful Tracy Lord is being arranged in Newport, R.I. Her ex-husband arrives to try to win her back. Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, Louis Armstrong and his Band. Not Rated

I Claudius
The BBC award-winning dramatization of Robert Graves’ version of the times of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Claudius told through the dying Claudius (Derek Jacobi) as he sets down the history of his family. Not Rated

Lilies
In this BBC TV production, Iris, May, and Ruby are sisters living in post-WWi Liverpool, struggling through poverty, passions, and profound disappointments. Not Rated

Man From Earth
John Billingsley, William Katt, Ellen Crawford and Tony Todd co-star in this provocative final work by Jerome Bixby, renowned as one of the greatest science-fiction authors of all time. Not Rated

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
A small town tuba player (Gary Cooper) inherits a fortune. When he wants to give it to the needy, a pack of greedy relatives and lawyers attempts to have him declared insane. Not Rated

My Best Friend’s Wedding
When her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) announces he’s getting married, Julianne (Julia Roberts) realizes she loves him, and plots to stop the wedding. Rated PG-13

Night Shift
A wimpy morgue attendant (Henry Winkler) is drawn into the wild schemes of his co-worker (Michael Keaton). The pair turn the morgue into a nighttime brothel. Rated R

Prime Suspect: The Last Witness
In the sixth installment of the series, Tennison (Helen Mirren) is ripe for retirement in the eyes of some, but is still up for a fight, and she’ll need all the energy she can muster when she takes on the British government in search of a sadistic killer with a guilty past. Not Rated

Project Runway: The Complete Third Season
International supermodel Heidi Klum returns as hostess with a glamorous panel of celebrities and fashion icons in search of the next great fashion designer. Rated TV-14

Rome: The Complete First Season
This HBO saga is set during the last years of Julius Caesar’s reign, and centered on two Roman soldiers and their families. Cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kenneth Cranham, Ciaran Hinds. Rated TV-MA

Sabrina
A remake of the classic romance about two wealthy brothers — one a playboy, the other a solid, hard working businessman — who both fall in love with the chauffeur’s daughter. Cast: Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear, John Wood, Nancy Marchand, Richard Crenna, Angie Dickinson, Lauren Holly. Rated PG

The Sacketts
Louis L’Amour’s epic western saga of brothers who blazed a name across the untamed post-Civil War New Mexico frontier. Cast: Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, Glenn Ford, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens. Not Rated

The Simpsons Movie
Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he himself created. Rated PG-13

Smart Travels Europe with Rudy Maxa Switzerland and the Alps, Christmas in Switzerland.
American Public Television’s travel host Rudy Maxa takes a video journey to this beautiful and mountainous country.

The Sopranos: the Complete First Season
HBO’s modern day morality tale about New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfino), as he deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life. Rated TV-MA

Stardust
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. An all star cast features: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro. Rated PG-13

Superbad
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. Rated R

Trading Places
Two wealthy investors pit heredity against environment when they switch the roles of a young preppie floor trader and an uneducated street hustler. Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Jamie Lee Curtis. Rated R

Undeclared: The Complete Series
College life as seen through the eyes of Steven Karp, a freshman determined to reinvent himself at a new school. Not Rated

While You Were Sleeping
A young woman saves the life of a stranger she has fallen in love with from afar and then meets and falls in love with her make-believe lover’s brother. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden. Rated PG

WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete First Season
Join WKRP’s hilarious staff–both on and off the air as they take their floundering station from hard times to hard rock. Not Rated

New DVDs – December 2007

Richelle

Alias: The Complete Fourth Season
When Sydney (Jennifer Garner) leaves the CIA to join a powerful new Black Ops unit, she has no idea of the reunion in store for her.

Alias: The Complete Fifth Season
Secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) returns to settle the score once and for all.

Amazing Grace
Based on the life of William Wilberforce and his perseverance to pass a law ending the slave trade in the late 18th century and the people who pushed him to pursue it to the end. Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Ciaran Hinds, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney. Rated PG

Book of Stars
A story about the relationship between two sisters, Mary, a terminally ill but resilient 16-year old and Penny, a jaded ex-poet who doesn’t believe in her sister’s magical vision of life. It’s up to Mary to believe for both of them. Cast: Mary Stuart Masterson, Jena Malone, Karl Geary, D.B. Sweeney, Delroy Lindo. Not Rated

The Bourne Ultimatum
Bourne (Matt Damon) races to discover the final mysteries of his past while a government agent tries to track him down after a shootout in Moscow. Rated PG-13

The Christmas Blessing
A young doctor (Neil Patrick Harris) encounters romance and deals with his past when he returns to his hometown during the holidays. Not Rated

A Christmas Memory
In this adaptation of Truman Capote’s short story, a young boy who was abandoned by his parents is raised by some older unmarried cousins. Cast: Patty Duke, Piper Laurie, Jeffrey Demunn, Anita Gilette, Eric Lloyd. Not Rated

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The widow McDowell and her seven-year-old son Thomas ask the gruff Jonathan Toomey, the best wood-carver in the valley, to carve the figures for a Christmas creche. Not Rated

The Christmas Shoes
A workaholic attorney (Rob Lowe) crosses paths with a young boy on Christmas Eve and rediscovers the true meaning of love, life, and the holiday season. Not Rated

Criminal Minds: The First Season
Join an elite team of FBI profilers as they analyze the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they can strike again. Cast: Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler. Not Rated

Deck the Halls
Two neighbors (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) go to war when one of them decides to decorate his house with so many Christmas lights that they are visible from space. Rated PG

Grey’s Anatomy: Season Three
A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of surgical interns and their supervisors at Seattle Grace Hospital.

Hairspray
A plump teenager girl teaches 1960s Baltimore about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden. Rated PG

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) turns 15, and along with adolescence come changes, including his first major crush. Rated PG-13

Hidden Blessings
A female detective investigates the murder of the wife of a prominent architect. Even though the husband is the prime suspect of this seemingly open and shut case, the detective finds herself hopelessly falling in love with him. Not Rated

High School Musical 2 Extended Edition
During the summer vacations a talent show is organized in a local country club and Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor take part in it. Rated TV G

The House Without a Christmas Tree
A young Nebraskan girl named Addie wants nothing more for the holidays than a Christmas tree. Her bitter, widowed father (Jason Robards) refuses, but slowly learns the spirit of the season. Not Rated

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Two Brooklyn firefighters (Kevin James & Adam Sandler) pretend to be gay so that they can receive domestic partner benefits. Rated PG-13

In the Land of Women
Heartbroken and depressed, Carter (Adam Brody) escapes L.A. to suburban Michigan to care for his sick grandmother. Rated PG-13

J.K. Rowling & the Birth of Harry Potter
This biographical film offers an insight into the author’s “rags to riches” story, exploring Rowling’s meteoric rise to fame as well as the people and places that shaped her as an author.  Not Rated

Jack Frost
A dead man’s spirit returns to his family in the form of a snowman. Cast: Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston. Rated PG

Live Free or Die Hard
John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back to take on an Internet-based terrorist organization who is systematically shutting down the United States. Rated PG-13

Lonely Hearts
A murderous couple finds their victims by answering personals ads in the newspaper. Resourceful detectives attempt to track them down. Cast: John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Jared Leto, Salma Hayek, Scott Caan, Alice Krige, Laura Dern. Rated R

Lord of the Flies
Adaptation of William Golding’s novel about a group of English boys who are stranded on an uninhabited island. Without adult control, the boys regress to savagery. Rated R

Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Tom Hanks narrates this IMAX film that transports you to the lunar surface, where you can walk alongside the 12 extraordinary astronauts who have been there, experiencing what they saw, heard, and felt. Not Rated

Mr Bean’s Holiday: Disaster is Just a Small Step Away
Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two come back together. Rated PG

Midsomer Murders: Set 9
The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these British mysteries based on the novels of Caroline Graham and originally broadcast on A&E TV. Not Rated

The Namesake
The son of Indian immigrants born in America wants to fit in with fellow New Yorkers, but his family is unwilling to let go of their traditional ways. Based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri. Rated PG-13

Neverwas
A psychiatrist (Aaron Eckhart) leaves an academic career behind to work at an institution where his novelist father lived before writing a renowned children’s book. Acclimating to his position, he befriends a schizophrenic man who helps him discover the book’s secrets. Rated PG-13

Ocean’s Thirteen
Danny Ocean and his band of thieves return, this time teaming up with their old nemesis, Terry Benedict. Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Ellen Barkin, Andy Garcia. Rated PG-13

Pathfinder
A Viking boy is raised by Native Americans and becomes a hero when his tribe fights the Norsemen. Rated R

The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
A demented doctor kidnaps an opera singer so that he can turn her into a mechanical nightingale. Not Rated

Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End
Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun-Fat, Geoffrey Rush. Rated PG-13

Pittsburgh
Actor Jeff Goldblum stars in this fly-on-the-wall mockumentary in which he plays himself taking a career hit by playing Harold Hill in a regional theatre production of The Music Man. Not Rated

Planet Earth: the Complete Series
This BBC production presents footage from diverse parts of the earth, showing a variety of creatures in their natural habitats. Narrated by David Attenborough. Not Rated

Ratatouille
In this animated feature, a rodent with a fondness for good food moves to Paris in order to pursue his dream of becoming a great chef. Rated G

Rescue Dawn
Director Werner Herzog’s film about Dieter Dengler, a German pilot (Christian Bale) who joins the U.S. military, fights in Vietnam, and is captured by Vietcong guerillas. Based upon his documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. Rated PG-13

Russian Bride
Natasha finds a new life through an Internet marriage agency, but her dreams are shattered in an abusive household. Rated R

Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Santa (Tim Allen) tries to juggle his family life with stopping Jack Frost, a cold foe who wants to put an end to Christmas. Rated G

The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton
The BBC-TV production based on the life of Isabella Beeton, author of Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management and the most famous cookbook author in British history. Isabella was an accomplished business woman who couldn’t cook but ended up producing the world’s most famous recipe book. Not Rated

Severance
A team-building weekend in the mountains of Eastern Europe goes horribly wrong for the sales division of a multinational arms manufacturer. Rated R

Shrek The Third
King Shrek? Not if he can help it. When his father-in-law dies, Shrek does everything he can to stay out of the castle and stay in the swamp. Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz reprise their roles in this animated feature. Rated PG

Sicko
Filmmaker Michael Moore is back with a comedy about the state of the health care system the U.S. Rated PG-13

Slow Burn
A district attorney (Ray Liotta) is involved in a 24-hour showdown with a gang leader (LL Cool J) and is, at the same time, being manipulated by an attractive assistant district attorney (Jolene Blalock) and a cryptic stranger. Rated R

Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Four men, dressed in identical garb, separate a car from a subway train and demand that New York City pay them one million dollars in ransom. Cast: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo. Rated R

Tara Road
Two women (Andie MacDowell and Brenda Fricker), one American and one Irish, agree to a two-month house exchange in order to find healing and strength through new surroundings and the kindness of others. Rated PG

To Market To Market To Buy a Fat Pig
A celebration of market houses, market places, and farmers’ markets across the United States. Rick Sebak checks out crab cakes in Baltimore’s Lexington market, shops with a chef in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty Farmers’ Market, and more. Not Rated

Transformers
Dueling alien races, the Autobots and the Decepticons, bring their battle to Earth, leaving the future of humankind hanging in the balance. Rated PG-13

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
Set during the Great Depression, a 12-year-old girl is sent to live with her Aunt in the country where she enlists the town’s dogs into a colorful holiday pageant that reminds the inhabitants that even the hard times can’t ruin the magical spirit of Christmas. Rated G

The Up Series
A series of six films that, every seven years, visits fourteen individuals from different parts of England to examine the current state of their lives. The first film shows them at age 7; the sixth revisits twelve of the original at 42 in 1998. Not Rated

Vacancy
A couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) stranded at an isolated motel realize they are in the middle of horror film. Rated R

Waitress
When Jenna, a waitress in a cheery southern diner, discovers that she’s pregnant, she doesn’t exactly jump for joy. Cast: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly, Eddie Jemison, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith. Rated PG-13

The War: A Ken Burns Film
Tells the story of ordinary people in four quintessentially American towns – Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and Luverne, Minnesota – and examines the ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America. Not Rated

You Kill Me
A hit-man (Ben Kingsley) trying to turn his life around gets a job in a mortuary, where he meets a woman who is a relative of one his hits. Rated R