New to Home Video: 'Get Smart,' 'Planet of the Apes,' 'A Christmas Story'

This week's list of DVD releases is kinda sorta missing a big name: Kung Fu Panda. You see, that movie will be released this weekend. Why? I guess to push some deals at retail outlets. Too little too late for Circuit City, I suppose, but I can't come up with a better reason.I mean, it can't even be delivered to where you are before Monday at the earliest, so if you want to watch it with your kids over the weekend, this is the time to do it. But why not just release it today instead? I have no answer for you, unless it's an election day thing. It's a strange experiment and I'm not entirely sure how it will benefit DVD sales. Anyway, look for it in stores on Sunday, November 9th.Beyond that, though, there are few titles worth mentioning: Get SmartAn affable if not entirely invigorated TV adaptation, Get Smart is another opportunity to cash in on Steve Carell, quickly becoming one of the more reliable comedic leading men. He has good chemistry with Anne Hathaway here, and The Rock is effective in a couple of scenes, but the laughter settles down about halfway through. The DVD features alternate scenes, a gag reel, and a few special features like The Right Agent for the Right Job, Max in Moscow, and Language Lessons.(Read our review) TranssiberianHere's counterprogramming for you: In the middle of summer, a thriller that takes place in the dead of winter in the most wintry civilized place in the world was released to art houses across the country. It's a thriller set on a train, so that'll add some tension. Oh, and one of the bad guys is Ben Kingsley...on a train...in Siberia...with a gun. Solid.The movie is relying on a healthy DVD run to make any money so if you see it (or have seen it) and like it, tell a friend. We can't really afford to stop making smaller movies just because they never get released in more than a few dozen theaters. Planet of the Apes: 40th Anniversary CollectionThey're all here, the five original Apes movies, including the original, Battle, Beneath, Conquest, and Escape. This is the first time the franchise has been available on Blu-Ray, which is nice, but I don't know if I'd want to spend $140 on it right away. I mean, it's not like they've gone back and digitally enhanced the whole series. There are some HD features - and man, are there a ton of features, with each of the five discs having added material - so if you're a huge fan or know one (like me), it's a great gift idea. But I'd wait until the price comes down a bit. A Christmas Story: Ultimate Collector's EditionEvery year about this time, we start getting in the mood for holiday films, usually restricted to comedies. It has to begin with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, but it won't be long until we listen to the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas and dig up our copy of A Christmas Story. There's a new two-disc version celebrating the film's 25th anniversary, and the collection includes a chef's apron, a recipe book, and cookie cutters. There are a few features thrown in, but it looks a lot like a repackaged version of the DVD that was released about five years ago.

Comments

[Will]

I'm tired of hearing those Ultimate Electronics commercials on the radio every day. Dude is bragging about checking prices at Circuit City...

As if that matters anymore!