New Video and DVD Releases

The new DVD releases include Charlotte's Web, The Good Shepherd and Volver. In addition, we'll take a sneak peek at next week's movies on video/DVD.

April 3, 2007 - New Video and DVD Releases:

Charlotte's Web DVD

Tagline: "Pig tales."

Length: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: G

Dakota Fanning stars in this 2006 screen adaptation of E.B. White's beloved children's book, which was done back in 1973 as an animated musical. This time around most of the animals are real with mouth movements added when they talk. However, the title character, Charlotte the Spider (voice of Julia Roberts), is computer-animated. The story is about how Charlotte saves the life of a pig. Voices heard include Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Kathy Bates and Robert Redford.

Selected DVD Special Features:

• Deleted Scenes

Find out more about this DVD release.

Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.

The Good Shepherd DVD

Tagline: "Edward Wilson believed in America, and he would sacrifice everything he loved to protect it."

Length: 167 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for some violence, sexuality and language

Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie star in this drama about the origins of the C.I.A. that was directed by Robert De Niro, who appears in a key supporting role. The main character is Edward Wilson (Damon), who seems to be based on James Angleton. Jolie plays Wilson's wife, and De Niro plays a character rather like "Wild Bill" Donovan. The film traces Wilson's life from his days in Yale's Skull and Bones society through his O.S.S. activities during World War II and up to 1961 in the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs fiasco in Cuba.

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 for availability on VHS.

Volver DVD

Length: 121 minutes
MPAA Rating: R some sexual content and language

Pedro Almodóvar wrote and directed this Spanish-language movie starring Penélope Cruz and Carmen Maura. The main character is Raimunda (Cruz), whose drunken husband is stabbed to death when he comes on to her teenage daughter. Raimunda puts his body in a restaurant freezer. Also, Raimunda's mother (Maura), who died in a fire several years earlier, seems to return from the dead and reside with Raimunda's sister (Lola Dueñas). Almodóvar has created a tragicomedy that celebrates the world of women.

Selected DVD Special Features:

• Widescreen
• Also Available on Blu-ray Disc

Find out more about this DVD release.

Formats Available: The above information on special features refers to the DVD. Check for availability on VHS.

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