‘Zodiac’ Two-Disc Director’s Cut (Special Collector’s Edition) ‘The Jason Bourne Collection’ ‘The Bronx is Burning’
David Fincher (”The Game” and “Se7en”) directs this thriller which is based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life notorious Zodiac, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960s and 1970s. The story garnered a Jack the Ripper feel with the killer sending twisted letters to newspapers and daring readers to solve coded messages. Fincher’s focus however is not on the killer, but rather the reporters and detectives whose lives are taken over by the case, notably an addictive crime writer (Robert Downey Jr.), an offbeat editorial cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal), and a dedicated cop (Mark Ruffalo). In addition to cast and crew commentary, a look at the film’s visual effects, and a making-of documentary, are all new features covering every aspect of the investigation (This Is the Zodiac Speaking) and a profile of the prime suspect (His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen). (Paramount) Smart, suspenseful, spectacular — this tremendous trilogy features Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an elite government agent outwitting and outmaneuvering anyone preventing him from learning about the secrets of his mysterious past. This collection includes all three films — “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” The slick package also features an oversize Bourne passport that includes a fourth disc of bonus material. Hours of extras include a look at the pyrotechnical sequences done without digital effects; how the exotic locations affected the filmmaking; Damon’s fight training; a diagnosis of Bourne’s amnesia by a renowned psychologist; a profile of author Robert Ludlum and the origins of the characters as well as deleted scenes. (Universal) ‘MI-5’ Vol.5 One of television history’s best spy series continues into a fifth season. “Spooks” (as it is known in the UK) is riveting drama smartly paralleling the nature of the espionage game with revolving agents presented in realistic speed and complexity. Here in season five, MI-5, the British equivalent to the FBI, deals with timely storylines involving religious fundamentalists, secret deals with the Saudis, conspirators driving the country to anarchy, and environmental terrorists. Cast and crew interviews and a preview of season six are included. (BBC Warner) Based on Jonathan Mahler’s book “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning,” this is the dramatic story of how in the summer of 1977 the New York Yankees’ helped bring hope to the multiple ills heaped upon the urban landscape. Amidst political strife, a city-wide blackout, and the Son of Sam killing sprees creating chaos in the Big Apple, the Yankees’ hard-won success lifted the spirits of a city in a time of darkness and uncertainty. Starring John Turturro and Oliver Platt, this five-disc package comes with a dugout full of bonus material. Over seven hours of extra features include: outtakes, deleted and extended scenes; archival news features from that year; a making-of documentary; extended interviews with real Yankees and cast; even complete stats and highlights from the 1977 World Series plus the complete Game 6. (ESPN) ‘Two and a Half Men’ The Complete Second Season After a year of living together, swinging bachelor Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and his divorced, uptight brother Alan (Jon Cryer) along with his indolent pre-pubescent son Jake (Angus Jones), kind of figure out how two and a half men sort of equal a family, albeit a new twist as an example of a dysfunctional one. Twenty four episodes are spread over four discs. (Warner Bros) Randy Williams
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 11, 2008. Read the original PDF.