From Ivana Redwine,
Your Guide to DVD.
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The new DVD releases include Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Good Night and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In addition, we'll take a sneak peek at next week's movies on video/DVD.

April 1, 2008 - New DVD Releases:

Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD

Tagline: "The original entourage."

Length: 92 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor

In 1958 "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" was introduced, and it became a perennial favorite. The number was supposedly sung by three chipmunks — Alvin, Simon and Theodore — under the direction of a man named Dave Seville. Five decades later comes this feature film where the chipmunks are done by CGI animation and Seville is played by Jason Lee. Although set in the present, the movie nevertheless tells the story of how the chipmunks start out living in a forest, relocate to L.A., meet Seville, become showbiz stars and encounter a new set of problems.

Selected DVD Special Features:

• Widescreen

Find out more about this DVD release.

Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check with your video store/online rental service for availability in other formats, including streaming video/digital download.

The Good Night DVD

Tagline: "Dreaming is believing."

Length: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content

Martin Freeman plays the main character in this dramedy, and he is supported by Simon Pegg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Penélope Cruz and Danny DeVito. This is the first feature film by writer-director Jake Paltrow, Gwyneth's brother. Gary (Freeman) is an ex-rock star who now writes advertising music and is in a bad relationship with a nagging girlfriend (Paltrow). When he sleeps, a mystery woman called Anna (Cruz) appears recurrently in his dreams, and he becomes so enamored of her he consults a New Age therapist (DeVito). But one day Gary sees Anna's face on the side of a bus.

Selected DVD Special Features:

• Widescreen

Find out more about this DVD release.

Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check with your video store/online rental service for availability in other formats, including streaming video/digital download.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street DVD

Tagline: "Never forget. Never forgive."

Length: 116 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for graphic bloody violence

Based on Stephen Sondheim's 1979 Broadway musical, this screen adaptation was directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Set in Victorian London, the story is a macabre revenge tale centering on Sweeney Todd (Depp), a barber who was egregiously wronged by Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). Todd sets out to kill the judge, and this turns out to require cutting many other throats along the way. The victims are used in the meat pies sold by Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter). Appearing in a supporting role as a rival barber is Sacha Baron Cohen.

Selected DVD Special Features:

• Two-Disc DVD Set

Find out more about this DVD release.

Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check with your video store/online rental service for availability in other formats, including streaming video/digital download.

Next Page - Additional Video/DVD Releases of Interest This Week