Red, the surprising second-highest grossing comic-based film of 2010, debuts on DVD along with perhaps the most accomplished Zorro TV series ever, and a host of new anime including a Naruto Shippuden box set and one of the most fascinating new series in years.

 

 

This week’s prime release is Red (Summit Entertainment, “PG-13,” $28.95, BD $34.95). Based on the graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer published by DC/Homage, Robert Schwentke’s film is a comedic playground for its aging trio of former CIA agents played by Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren. Red, the title is an acronym for “Retired, Extremely Dangerous, found great favor with both critics (70% positive on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (it earned $165 million worldwide). This is not a film that wears its graphic novel origins on its sleeve so retailers will have to connect the dots for their customers. In fact the graphic novel is a bit more serious than the film, which adopts a light bantering tone that occasionally comes at the expense of credibility, but which it carries off quite well. It’s the performances that made this film stand out at the box office—and not just those of Morgan Freeman and the top-billed trio—Mary Louise Parker is brilliant as a civilian caught up in the action and Brian Cox plays his role of an ex-KGB agent to the hilt, while Karl Urban brings a surprising extra dimension to his initially thankless role. Overall Red has to rank as one of 2010’s top comedy films and should do well on DVD.

 

Also out this week is the equine epic Secretariat (Disney, “PG,” $29.99, BD/Combo $39.99). This “true” story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner features exciting racing scenes, but the film’s attempt at a sort of Seabiscuit-like social relevance is ludicrous.

 

Fans of grisly gore-filled horror movies that verge on torture porn may morn the end of the Saw franchise, but the seventh and final film in the series, Saw: The Final Chapter (Lionsgate, “R,” $29.99, BD $39.99, 3-D BD $49.99) is a formulaic effort that revolves around a seemingly unending series of traps set up by the film’s diabolical villain. Yes, the Saw movies are not as morally bankrupt as the Hostel films, but there is little doubt that by the end of its run the Saw franchise was running out of inspiration, and going to 3-D for the final movie wasn’t the answer.

 

 

The top release this week is Zorro: The Complete Series (A&E, 2024 min., $99.95), which includes all 88 episodes of the series that ran on the Family Channel from 1990-1993, which many Zorro aficionados consider the best Zorro TV show of all time. Produced in Madrid, Spain the 90s Zorro featured Duncan Regehr in the title role. Though not without its cheesy elements (the Christmas episode is one to miss), this Zorro series strikes the right swashbuckling tone throughout. Bonus materials include the original Douglas Fairbanks’ Mark of Zorro silent feature as well as behind-the-scenes features. The four individual seasons of this Zorro TV series (22 episodes each) are also available solo with an MSRP of $29.95.

 

The bestselling new release of this week will undoubtedly be Glee, Season 2 Vol.1 (Fox, 464 min., $39.98), which includes 10 episodes from the second season of the popular musical series. Special features that will appeal to all the Gleeks include a “Glee Musical Jukebox,” “Getting Waxed with Jane Lynch,” “Sue’s Quips,” and “Glee at Comic-Con 2010.”

 

New animated series include She-Ra: Princess of Power, The Complete Series (Classic Media, 2000 min., $99.95), which contains all 93 episodes of the Saturday morning series, the single-disc Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Season 1 Vol. 1 (Warner Bros.,88 min., $14.98), which collects the first four episodes of the new Scooby-Doo series, and a Blu-ray edition of Voltron, Defender of the Universe: Fleet of Doom (World Events, 45 min., $19.99). For fans of rare vintage TV animation there is also Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., 286 min., $24.95), which contains all 13 episodes of the Hanna Barbera series from 1974-1975.

 

Other U.S. releases of interest include Matlock Season 6 (Paramount, 1030 min., $49.99), Webster: Season One (Shout Factory, 550 min., $29.93), and the excellent documentary series The Universe: The Complete Season 5 (A&E, $29.95, BD $39.95).

 

There is a plethora of U.K. releases this week, but the best of them is Pie in the Sky Series 4 (Acorn Media, 296 min., $39.99). The 25-stone Richard Griffiths is perhaps the most unlikely protagonist ever for a detective series, but Pie in the Sky makes perfect use of his considerable gifts as an actor. Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Griffiths) would much rather play the role of chef in his “wife’s” restaurant (Pie in the Sky), but Crabbe’s conniving careerist-minded boss Freddie Fisher keeps him on the job. Deftly mixing various sorts of mysteries with plenty of humor and an overriding love of good food, Pie in the Sky is a wonderful workplace comedy with two prime venues (the restaurant and the police station) that can still manage some very suspenseful episodes such as the one in Series 4 in which Crabbe has to protect a reluctant mob informer.

 

Even more consistently suspenseful is Wish Me Luck Series 2 (Acorn Media, 375 min., $39.99). Based on true stories of British women recruited for spy operations in France during World War II, this series is tense from beginning to end. A failed attempt to sabotage a radio installation communicating with German submarines provides a possible indication that the British spy network and its French allies might have been infiltrated by double agents. With excellent location work, Wish Me Luck Series 2 looks even better than its predecessor, and is no less exciting.

 

For those who prefer their espionage to be of a more recent Cold War vintage, there is MI-5 Series 8 (BBC, 400 min., $39.98), which collects eight episodes that aired in 2009, and presented a sophisticated narrative involving the mysterious organization known as “Nightingale.”

 

An earlier, much less sophisticated take on the espionage drama, though not without its vigorous 1960s charms, is Man in a Suitcase: Set One (Acorn Media, 779 min., $59.99). Produced in 1967, Man in a Suitcase was the follow-up to Danger Man (after Patrick McGoohan left to produce The Prisoner). Though produced in Britain by ITC, Man in a Suitcase used American method actor Richard Bradford as its protagonist, McGill, a former U.S. intelligence agent who cannot return home and is forced to work abroad as a bounty hunter and agent for hire. McGill has to take on all sorts of assignments and operate in an increasingly “gray” arena of mistrust, deceit, and betrayal where he is often hired to be the fall guy.

 

When Americans think about British TV they generally conjure up the a lavishly-produced historical drama such as The Shadow of the Tower (BBC, 640 min., $59.98), a six-part 1972 prequel to The Six Wives of Henry VIII. The Shadow of the Tower examines the reign of Henry VII, a key period in the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Extras include The Tower of London: The Innocent, a 50-minute 1968 production about the ascent of Henry VII as well as a vibrant lecture by Del Smith about the historical record of the 1485 transition from Richard III to Henry VII, and a 24-page production booklet.

 

Another particularly popular facet of British culture here in the States is the drawing room mystery, and there is no better example of the genre than The Agatha Christie Hour: Set 2 (Acorn Media, 260 min., $39.99), five tales of murder and mystery set in a stylish Art Deco upper crust England of the 1920s, and featuring lesser known Christie protagonists.  There is no Poirot or Miss Marple here, but that’s no problem.

 

 

After a few lean weeks things are back on track with a number of strong releases including Naruto Shippuden Box Set 5 (Viz Media, “16+,” 320 min., $49.95), which contains episodes 54-65 of the popular ninja series that airs on the Disney XD cable channel. Also from Viz Media is the Vampire Knight Complete Series (Viz Media, “16+,” 312 min., $49.95), which includes all 13 episodes of the first Studio Deen anime series (a second episode series, Vampire Knight Guilty, has also been produced) based on the shojo manga by Matsuri Hino, that is currently the most popular shojo manga series in the U.S. 

 

Pokemon Elements (Viz Media, 13+, 300 min., $29.92) is a different sort of release since it does not present episodes in chronological order.  Instead, it consists of the most important episodes commemorating the various types of Pokemon.

 

Also new this week is the Sacred Blacksmith (Funimation, 300 min., $64.98) a 12-episode series produced by Manglobe in 2009 that is based on a series of light novels by Isao Miura, which has sold nearly 800,000 copies in Japan. Funimation began streaming this sometimes dark, but always interesting fantasy series last summer, but it is now available with an English dub as well as with the original Japanese language track and subtitles.

 

Even more interesting is Durarara!! Part 1 (Aniplex, “13+,” 225 min., $49.98), which includes the first nine episodes of a 24-episode series, which likely means it will be released in 3 parts, rather than 2.  This fascinating show is based on a series of light novels by Ryohogo Narita, the author of Baccano!, a clever and complex gangster saga that was made into an anime series by Brain Base, the same outfit responsible for Durarara!!. Hardcore anime fans and Japanophiles will love the richly detailed Ikebukuro setting of Durarara!!. The series takes a little time to set up its numerous characters and plotlines, but Durarara!! is the sort of highly original anime that provides the kind of intellectual excitement that keeps hardcore fans sifting through all the derivative series produced in Japan every year looking for gems like this.

 

The other releases of new material (to the U.S.) include the second portions of two series, Ghost Sweeper Mikami Collection 2 (Sentai Filmworks, “13+,” 275 min., $49.98, see “DVD Round-Up: Week of November 23rd”), and Pandora Hearts Volume 2 Premium Edition (NIS America, “13+,” 310 min., $59.99, see “DVD Round-Up: Week of October 26th”).

 

Repacked and re-priced sets out this week include the Disgaea Complete Collection (Funimation, “13+,” 300 min., $39.98) and the Gantz Complete Series (Funimation, “17+,” 650 min., $49.98).

 

 

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Music Box, “R,” $29.95, BD $34.95) is the finale of the Swedish film trilogy based on Steig Larsson’s bestselling Millennium Trilogy. Fans of this series, which is being remade by American director David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club, The Social Network), will have to see the conclusion of the epic saga, but unfortunately in Hornet’s Nest, the movie’s most dynamic character Lisabeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) is mostly seen in a hospital room or a courtroom, which means that the film lacks some of the energy of the first two installments of the trilogy, which are animated by Rapace’s bristling, definitive performance as the multiply-pierced, computer-hacking Goth angel of revenge.

 

For the art house crowd this week there is Enter the Void (MPI, $24.98, BD $29.98), French director Gaspar Noe’s psychedelic saga about an American drug dealer in Tokyo, and a Blu-ray edition of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s 1991 avant garde classic The Double Life of Veronique (Criterion, “R,” $39.95).

 

 

In Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (Magnolia, “R,” $26.98, BD $29.98) documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Man in the Room) takes a look at the scandal that brought down the “Sheriff of Wall Street.” Spitzer’s incredible hubris is on full display, but Gibney also suggests that there might have been other factors that speeded his demise.