CRONOS: The Criterion Collection
(1993)Director: Guillermo del Toro; stars: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook DVD: $29.95 , Blu-ray: $39.95 Extras: Two audio commentaries, one featuring del Toro and the other producers Arthur H. Gorson and Bertha Navarro and co-producer Alejandro Springall; “Geometria,” an unreleased 1987 short horror film by del Toro, finished by the director in 2010, plus a new video interview with him; “Welcome to Bleak House,” a video tour by del Toro of his office, featuring his collectibles and personal work; new video interviews with del Toro, Navarro and actor Ron Perlman; video interview with actor Federico Luppi; stills gallery; trailer; a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Maitland McDonagh and excerpts from del Toro’s notes for the film. (The Criterion Collection).
Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) made an auspicious, audacious feature debut with CRONOS, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a mysterious, crude American named Angel (a delightfully deranged Ron Perlman [Hellboy]). Featuring marvelous special makeup effects and the unforgettably haunting imagery for which del Toro has become world-renowned, CRONOS is a visually rich and emotionally captivating dark fantasy.
INCEPTION
(2010) Director: Christopher Nolan. Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Lukas Haas. DVD: $28.98, Blu-ray Combo Pack: $35.99 (Warner).
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in this sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the best there is at extraction: stealing valuable secrets inside the subconscious during the mind’s vulnerable dream state. His skill has made him a coveted player in industrial espionage but also has made him a fugitive and cost him dearly. Now he may get a second chance if he can do the impossible: inception, planting an idea rather than stealing one. If they succeed, Cobb and his team could pull off the perfect crime. But no planning or expertise can prepare them for a dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy only Cobb could have seen coming.
LAW & ORDER: The Eighth Year
(1997-98) Jerry Orbach, Benjamin Bratt, Sam Waterston, Carey Lowell and S. Epatha Merkerson $59.98. (Universal).
The groundbreaking series honored with more than 50 Primetime Emmy® Award nominations since its inception continues with Law & Order: The Eighth Year. Jerry Orbach, Benjamin Bratt, Sam Waterston, Carey Lowell and S. Epatha Merkerson return for riveting cases of military corruption, drive-by shootings, a killer infected with the AIDS virus and an issue that hits close to home: abuse of power in the District Attorney’s office. This 5-disc set contains all 24 compelling episodes, including “Tabloid,” co-written by Oscar® nominee Alec Baldwin, “Stalker,” winner of a Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Cinematography, and the crossover episode “Baby It’s You, Part 2” from Homicide: Life on the Street. Featuring guest stars Kate Walsh (Private Practice) and Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Law & Order: The Eighth Year delivers the intelligent and gripping entertainment that has become synonymous with creator Dick Wolf’s legacy and made the show the longest-running crime series in the history of television.
VEGA$: The Second Season — Volume 1
(1979-80) Robert Urich, Tony Curtis, Greg Morris, Bart Braverman $39.99. (CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment).
Robert Urich returns as Dan Tanna, a P.I. working the Vegas strip in this Aaron Spelling series that was created by director Michael Mann.
