‘Taxi Driver’ Two-Disc Collector’s Edition This classic urban tale chronicling the mental breakdown of a man driven to violence by loneliness and desperation (Robert DeNiro) comes with a trunk full of special features. They include: Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese (”The Departed”) discussing the making of the film; screenwriter Paul Schrader talking about the picture’s themes and how the story came about; DeNiro, Oliver Stone and others paying tribute to Scorsese; a making-of documentary; a look at the film’s locations and how New York has changed from 1975 to today as well as a storyboard to film comparison and an animated photo gallery. “You talkin’ to me?” (Sony) ‘Robocop’ 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Peter Weller stars as Officer Alex Murphy a terminally wounded cop who returns to the police force as part man, part powerful cyborg whose dormant human memories resurface as he cleans up the mean streets (and corporate criminals) of Detroit. Director Paul Verhoeven also helmed “Total Recall” and “Basic Instinct.” The double-disc offers many features including storyboards with animator commentary, a photo gallery, special effects techniques, deleted scenes, a making-of documentary, writer, producer, director commentary, and the original theatrical trailer. (Fox) ‘A Night at the Roxbury’ Special Collector’s Edition Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan portray the Butabi brothers, a pair of self-deluded wannabe A-list club hoppers dreaming of opening their own nightspot. Led to believe they are rolling in money, a gold-digging supermodel and her friend (Elisa Donovan and Gigi Rice) try to work the guys for their dough only to learn they are broke. The concept originated as a skit on Saturday Night Live which also featured Jim Carrey. Extras include features: “Making the List,” “Do That Dance!,” and “Roxbury Rags: Costume and Fashion Guide.” (Paramount) ‘30 Rock’ Season One Written, produced, and starring Saturday Night Live anchor Tina Fey, the show features Emmy-winning Fey as the head writer for a live variety program in New York City. Her challenging job is made more difficult by a meddling network executive (Alec Baldwin), a quirky writing staff, and an unpredictable cast (led by Tracy Morgan). The complete first season of 21 episodes are included in this three-disc set. Extra material include various shorts, deleted scenes, a wrap party video blooper reel, and audio commentary by Fey, Baldwin, Morgan and Jack McBrayer. (Universal) ‘Dexter’ The First Season Moving from HBO’s “Six Feet Under” to Showtime’s “Dexter,” Michael C. Hall distinguishes himself from typical crime dramas with his twisted look at life and death. Based on the novel “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay, Hall is riveting as an orphaned sociopath struggling to keep his emotions in the deep freeze while presenting himself as a caring member of the community working on the police force. The four-disc set includes all 12 episodes and extras such as: “The Academy of Blood- A Killer Course,” “Witnessed in Blood- A True Murder Investigation,” two episodes from the Showtime series, “Brotherhood,” audio commentaries by the creators and cast, as well as the first two chapters of the newest Dexter novel — “Dexter in the Dark.” (Paramount)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 6, 2007. Read the original PDF.