‘The Transformers’ Two Disc Special Edition (Blu-ray) Director Michael Bay and producer Steven Spielberg join forces to provide this tale of an epic struggle between the Autobots and Decepticons. Shia LeBeouf stars in this fight for mankind. Special features include: “Our World” — stunt training footage and on-set location interviews, “Their War” — production design work, military advisors, and digital special effects usage, and “More Than Meets the Eye” — concept boards and trailers. Also included is exclusive online material. (Paramount) ‘Smart People’
From the producer of “Sideways,” this story features Dennis Quaid as a widowed, self-absorbed professor whose staid life is turned upside down when he falls for a former student (Sarah Jessica Parker). Things get more complicated when his freeloading brother (Thomas Church) and thorny daughter chime in on his relationship. Filmmaker commentary, bloopers, cast interviews and deleted scenes are included. (Miramax) ‘The Promotion’
This workplace comedy stars Sean Scott (”American Pie”) and John Reilly (”Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”). The no-holds-barred job battle also features Lili Taylor (”Six Feet Under”) and Jenna Fischer (”The Office”). A making-of feature, outtakes, and promotional webisodes make up some of bonus material. (Genius) ‘Heroes’ Season 2 Coming off a very successful debut, NBC’s sophomore presentation overcomes some character and plot flaws (some would say caused by the writers’ strike) to provide the suspense and twists it built on throughout its first year. The four-disc set features every episode plus an alternate ending to the season finale where the result is something that doesn’t bode well for humanity. Cast and crew commentaries, untold stories, Web site material, and Tim Sale’s gallery of screen art are included. (Universal) ‘The Three Stooges Collection’ Volume Three Twenty three digitally re-mastered shorts covering the golden age of these classic slapstick comedians are presented in their original order of release from 1940 to 1942. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard are the stars of such assorted mayhem as “A Plumbing We Will Go” (Curly’s personal favorite), “So Long Mr. Chumps,” “What’s the Matador?” and “Sock-A-Bye-Baby.” Biting satire? Merciless wit? Soitenly. (Sony) ‘The Big Bang Theory’ The Complete First Season From the series creators of “Two and a Half Men” and “Dharma & Greg” comes this successful lab experiment that gives gravitational pull a whole new meaning for two geeky physicists (Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons) when a pretty woman (Kaley Cuoco) enters their universe. Seventeen episodes on three discs including the original pilot, it also comes with a behind-the-scenes look into “geek chic” and the quantum mechanics of the big bang theory features. (Warner Bros) ‘Ozzie & Harriet’ Best of Ricky and Dave Rick and Dave Nelson grew up before America’s eyes on the popular 1950s television show, The “Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” which lasted 14 seasons (the record until broken by “The Simpsons”). Stories that cover the boys from junior high to adulthood guided by their real-life parents arrive on four discs using episodes from across its long run. The package also includes a dozen vocal performances from the show by Rick Nelson, the recording star who began singing in the series’ fifth season. (Shout Factory) ‘Desperate Housewives’ The Complete Fourth Season The Wisteria women and their dishy tales are in full bloom on this five-disc set. This season the ladies on the steamy side of suburbia welcome back on old friend (Dana Delany). Storylines include pregnancy — real and fake, drug addiction, and a threat to all of Wisteria, a tornado. All 17 episodes of these Felines of Fairview are included along with deleted scenes, bloopers, a look at the couples, a collectible Wisteria Lane Realtor’s Guide, and a segment called “Getting Desperate” — from concept to completion of an episode. (ABC/Buena Vista) RANDY WILLIAMS
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.