By By Randy Williams Newdvdreleases
‘I Think I Love My Wife’
Chris Rock writes, stars, and directs this uproarious view of matrimony. Loosely based on the 1972 French film, “Chloe in the Afternoon,” Rock is joined by Gina Torres as his wife and Kerry Washington as the alluring ex-mistress of an old friend who now creates havoc with Rock’s life. Extras includes features, deleted scenes, and a music video. (Fox) ‘The French Connection’ I and II Box Set Gene Hackman’s indelible characterization of feisty New York narcotics detective Popeye Doyle earned him an Oscar. The original, winner of five Academy Awards, was directed by William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”). The follow-up featuring Doyle in Marseille determined to nail drug dealer Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) was helmed by John Frankenheimer (“The Manchurian Candidate”). Bonus material on this three disc set include a behind-the-scenes documentary, trailers, still gallery, and a deleted scenes feature hosted by Friedkin. (Fox) The Shakespeare Collection A quartet of the legendary Bard’s best work adapted for the screen is lavishly presented in this five-disc presentation. An all-star cast performs in this timeless tale of murder, corruption, and revenge in director/star Kenneth Branagh’s two-disc special edition of “Hamlet.” Laurence Olivier delivers a classic performance as the proud general in “Othello.” Winner of a pair of Academy Awards, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” features James Cagney and Olivia De Havilland. Divided by family but bonded by love, Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard star in the classic romantic tale, “Romeo and Juliet.” An encore of bonus material includes a Branagh intro and commentary, a vintage Olivier interview, Ms. De Havilland’s screen test, and numerous shorts, features, trailers, and scholar commentaries. (Warner Bros) The Esther Williams Collection The movie mermaid from Hollywood’s Golden Era is featured in five films: “Bathing Beauty,” “Easy to Wed,” “On an Island with You,” “Neptune’s Daughter,” and “Dangerous When Wet.” Among the co-stars are Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Durante, and Ricardo Montalban. Before heading to Hollywood, Williams was a world class swimmer whose gold medal dreams were washed away when the Olympics of 1940 were canceled due to WWII. The five disc collection provides waves and waves of extras including outtakes, cartoons, interviews, and classic shorts. (Warner Bros) ‘Rome’ The Complete Second Season With a power struggle and civil unrest following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., Rome’s future looks dark. In his will Caesar has anointed Octavian as his heir but a falling out between him and the steadfastly ambitious Mark Antony along with a divided senate make for chaos in the once mighty empire. Extra features include a tour of the production, an interactive guide to the series, audio commentaries, a feature about class differences in Rome, and a revealing look at the famous love affair between Antony and Cleopatra. (HBO) ‘Popeye the Sailor’ 1933-1938 Volume One Toot-toot. Well blow me down. The classic animated sailor steps aboard the dvd ship with Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee’pea, and Bluto in this four-disc collection that includes everything but fresh spinach. There are 60 newly restored, black-and-white uncut cartoons. A boatload of special features include a pair of retrospective documentaries, I Yam What I Yam: The Story of Popeye and The Roots of Animation 1900-1920, as well as early cartoons from creator Max Fleischer and commentaries from voice artists, animators, and historians. (Warner Bros) RANDY WILLIAMS
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2007. Read the original PDF.