Andre The Butcher

Carving a Path of Delicious Destruction, April 25, 2006 from THINKFilm

A horror film with all the right ingredients -- sizzling cast, scorching one-liners and a smoldering soundtrack -- Andre The Butcher steams up the small screen, featuring Ron Jeremy in the title role, and not-to-be-missed performances by April Billingsley (Behold The Raven), Muary Sterling (Hart’s War), and Terry Mross (Dazed And Confused).

SYNOPSIS
When a group of cheerleaders on their way to a competition get into a car accident, they are forced to venture deep into the isolated backwoods of Florida to find help. They soon discover that they are not alone: two escaped convicts on a desperate bid for freedom take the young girls hostage in an old abandoned hunting lodge and have a tense stand-off with local law enforcement. Things really start to fall to pieces when legendary killer Andre the Butcher – named for his occupation in his former life – hones in on his prey. Now, The Butcher has two new jobs: harvesting souls for hell and devouring the human remains of his victims. Whether cheerleaders, convicts or law enforcers, they all taste the same to him!

BONUS FEATURES
* Filmmaker Commentary
* Deleted Scene

BASICS
Price: $29.99
Street Date: April 25, 2006
Video: Full screen
Audio: Dolby 5.1 Surround (English)
Subtitles: Spanish
Run Time: Approx. 87 mins.
Unrated

Alice and Step By Step coming DVD for the First Time, June 27

Consumers will get another sampling of some of television's best loved sitcoms when Warner Home Video releases the third wave of its compilation series, TV Favorites, June 27, 2006. Featured titles include the Golden Globe Award winning Alice and the popular, long-running family comedy, Step By Step. Each DVD is value-priced at $9.97 and consist of six specially chosen episodes.

Fans will want to shout "kiss my grits!" when everyone's favorite waitress, Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin), serves up laughter and fun for the first time ever on DVD. Based on the Academy Award-winning film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Alice focuses on the life of struggling singer and single mother Alice Hyatt who embarks on a journey to Hollywood in hopes of making it in show business. However, along the way, her car breaks down in Phoenix. Without any money and a son, Tommy (Phillip McKeon), to care for, Alice takes a waitress job at local greasy spoon, Mel's Diner. Here, Alice works for the ornery owner and chef, Mel Sharples, portrayed by the late Vic Tayback, and with fellow waitresses, the wisecracking, man-hungry whipper-snapper Flo (Polly Holliday) and ditzy Vera (Beth Howland). Together, they encounter a series of lovable restaurant regulars and an assortment of colorful characters passing through Phoenix. Alice is a classic comedy series that lasted nine seasons on the air.

The six episodes featured are:
* Alice Gets a Pass, 08/31/76
* The Odd Couple, 02/26/77
* Close Encounters of the Worst Kind, 01/22/78
* Block Those Kicks, 10/22/78
* Cabin Fever, 12/02/79
* Flo's Farewell, 02/24/80

Part of ABC TV's hit T.G.I.F. Friday primetime lineup, Step By Step was the fun-for-the whole family sitcom that aired for seven successful seasons. The series starred Patrick Duffy as Frank Lambert, a freewheeling, divorced contractor who impulsively marries widowed beautician Carol Foster (Suzanne Summers) when the two meet while on separate vacations in Jamaica. When the two fly home to Port Washington, Wisconsin, where they both live, they begin the big task of joining their single parent families to form one big bunch. Each having three kids, there is a great deal of adjusting to be done. Viewers of all ages will want to join the Lambert and Foster clan as they struggle through the ups and downs of having eight very different personalities living under one roof. The series also starred Brandon Call, Christine Lakin, Josh Byrne, Staci Keanan, Angela Watson and Christopher Castile.

The six episodes featured are:
* Pilot, 9/20/1991
* Rules of the House, 10/4/1991
* JT's World, 10/9/1992
* Christmas Story, 12/10/1993
* I'll Be Home for Christmas, 12/16/1994
* Your Cheatin' Heart, 10/3/1997

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: SEASON TWO, VOLUME ONE

Episodes 66-98, PLUS Brand New Documentary Features

Coming to DVD, June 6 from BCI Eclipse

The excitement of ‘80s animation action and adventure continues as BCI unveils 33 more episodes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. This is the third release in a four volume set that will showcase all 130 original episodes of the popular animated saga. The six DVDs in Season Two, Volume One features episodes 66-98 and loads of extras...

BONUS FEATURES
* Two brand new documentaries: The Stories of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Magic of Filmation
* Full length animated storyboard with interactive episode comparison
* Two new original art cards by acclaimed artists Frank Cho and Emiliano Santalucia
* Three Episode Commentary Tracks by Lou Scheimer, Erika Scheimer, Larry DiTillio, Tom Sito, Tom Tataranowicz, and Dave Teague
* Detailed Character Profiles
* Trivia and fun facts
* Commercial spots
* DVD-ROM: Five complete episode scripts

For more information, visit he-man.org

Mondo Macabro Asks “Who Wants To Live Forever?” With the Release of LIFESPAN

Coming to DVD, May 30

Mondo Macabro continues its tradition of unearthing the buried treasures of genre cinema with the world premiere DVD release of Alexander Whitelaw’s LIFESPAN. Mixing science fiction and horror into a thought-provoking existential thriller about the quest for everlasting life and the extremes that some men will go through to obtain it. Cult icon Klaus Kinski (For a Few Dollars More) plays the mysterious Swiss Man -- ruthless industrialist Nicolas Ulrich -- who is obsessed with a search for the elixir of life. He tricks a young American scientist (Hiram Keller) into joining him on his demonic quest, a quest that ends in suicide, death and madness. The story takes place in the atmospheric European city of Amsterdam. Its winding alleys and ancient canals trap the characters in a labyrinthine maze as they find themselves manipulated like figures on a giant chess board. Controversial in its day for the extended bondage scene featuring female star Tina Aumont (Fellini's Casanova), LIFESPAN was cut in many countries, and is presented on this DVD in its complete, uncut version. The brilliant soundtrack, unavailable for over 30 years, is by avant garde composer Terry Riley.

BONUS FEATURES
* In-depth interview with director/co-writer Alexander Whitelaw
* Feature length audio commentary from director Alexander Whitelaw.
* Production notes
* Original theatrical trailer

BASICS
Price: $24.95
Street Date: May 30, 2006
Video: Anamorphic widescreen

For more info: Visit Mondo Macabro's official site

Adult Swim's THE VENTURE BROS. - SEASON ONE

Coming to DVD May 30, from Warner Home Video

Wherever there is action, adventure, intrigue and some very odd villains, look for The Venture Bros., just stay clear of the booby traps! In addition to all 13 hilarious Season One episodes, the DVD will feature over three hours of never-before-seen bonus materials, all for $29.98.

SYNOPSIS
In this spoof of 1960s cartoons such as Jonny Quest and boys' adventure novels like "Tom Swift" and "The Hardy Boys" , the Venture brothers -- Hank and Dean -- travel around the world with their renowned scientist father, Doctor Venture. Imagining themselves as an unusually gifted team of "brains" and "brawn" - with very little of either - Hank and Dean treat even the most mundane situation like a bold new adventure or a curious mystery. As a result, they regularly find themselves in danger with a host of odd-ball villains - but rarely find their way out. Doc Venture, who can't stand his dimwitted sons, pops "diet pills" like candy and reeks of failure and unrealized potential. He hopes his new invention will bring him the glory and respect he has long sought and save Venture Industries. The show features the voice of Patrick Warburton (The Tick) fame who voices Brock Sampson the family bodyguard. Brock is a former secret agent assigned to the Venture family and then promptly forgotten by the government. Impossibly muscle-bound, he is everything Doc Venture would love to be -- strong, violent, and catnip to the ladies.

BONUS FEATURES
* Pilot episode
* Audio Commentaries
* Deleted Scenes
* Behind the scenes with Cast and Crew
* "A Very Venture Christmas" episode

BASICS
Price: $29.98
Street Date: May 30, 2006
Audio: Dolby 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Run Time: 338 min

The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown did not breach the copyright of an earlier book, London's High Court has ruled. The verdict shows that the claim was "utterly without merit." The ruling ends a five-week court case.

Source: BBC News

The orignal man in tights is returning to television... in the UK. Robin Hood is being played by newcomer Jonas Armstrong in the BBC series, debuting this fall. Filming has just got underway in Hungary. Jonas said the show would be "modern and medieval, with a bit of street - I've even got a hoodie". The series will also star Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Source: CBBC Newsround

Mr Brooks
Dane Cook will co-star alongside Kevin Costner, William Hurt, and Demi Moore, in his first dramatic role. The story centers on a prominent businessman (Costner) who has an alter ego that causes him to do dangerous things. Cook's character blackmails him into being his new accomplice. Shooting starts April 17 in Shreveport, La.

All Lit Up
Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick will star as neighbors in a small New England town who collide when one decides to decorate his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space. The script is by Don Rhymer and John Whitesell is directing for a 2006 holiday release.

P.D.R.
Kimberly Elise (Diary of a Mad Black Woman) has been cast opposite Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac in Lionsgate's inner-city sports drama, based on the true story of Philadelphia swim coach Jim Ellis. Ellis fixed an abandoned city pool in one of Philadelphia's toughest neighborhoods and recruited African-American youths to join his team, which went on to win the state championship. Sunu Gonera will direct, from a screenplay by Michael Gozzard, Kevin M. Smith, and Mills Goodloe.

Source: Variety

No More Mr. Nice Guy
ABC has shut down production on the half-hour comedy pilot starring Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show). The story revolves around a well-meaning man who always ends up looking bad even when trying to do the right thing. Rena Sofer (Ed) and Kevin Weisman (Alias) had been set to co-star. A table read had already taken place, but nothing had been taped. The project will be redeveloped for either midseason or 2007-08.

Keeping it in the Family
Family Guy writer/producer and Kitchen Confidential creator Dave Hemingson is cooking up plans at Fox, thanks to a new multiyear, seven-figure deal that will keep him at the studio until 2008. Part of this pact is an animated project centering on fraternal twins from an ordinary family who just happen to be the smartest kids in the world. The studio is also shopping the cancelled Confidential to other networks for a 2006-07 pickup.

On the Lot
Steven Spielberg, whose big break came directing the TV movie Duel, is turning again to the small screen in an attempt to find the heir to his throne. The reality series, co-produced by Mark Burnett, will pit undiscovered filmmakers against one another as they attempt to win a studio development deal at Paramount-based DreamWorks. Spielberg won't regularly appear, but he's already at work sketching behind-the-scenes details for the show. Producers were quick to point out that the show will be more American Idol than The Apprentice. Sixteen contestants will be split into four teams and given the resources to produce a short film. Each week will focus on a different genre, including comedy, thriller, drama, romance, and sci-fi. For each film, teams will pick a leader to serve as a director. A panel of judges (including a studio exec and a film critic) will critique the shorts in front of a live studio audience, with viewers ultimately voting for their favorite. Results will be revealed on the next night's half-hour episode, and the losing short's director will be eliminated. Burnett and Spielberg have built in the possibility that an eliminated director can make a comeback at some point in the show. Competition will continue until there are just two directors left. They'll have to work individually to secure the ultimate prize: a meeting with Spielberg, an office at DreamWorks, and a "healthy" discretionary fund. Fox is aiming for a first-quarter 2007 launch and likely will use "Idol" as a promotional pad. Features that come out of On the Lot will be produced through DreamWorks, but Fox has first crack if any of the concepts go into development for television.

Source: Variety

The Troubleshooter
Universal has acquired John Hamburg (Meet the Parents) and Mark Shanahan's spec script -- a comic thriller about a guy who is trying to figure out his life while running for his life. The film will be fast-tracked, with casting to begin shortly for a shoot later this year. Hamburg will direct.

Cold Fear
Avatar Films has secrured the film rights to Ubisoft's survival horror videogame -- an unusual move, since Cold Fear didn't sell well to gamers. Producers are betting that the scary atmosphere and compelling story -- a Coast Guard Officer trying to reconnect with his daughter, while adrift on a whaling ship infested with aliens.

Into the Mirror
Director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes) has committed to yet another a horror thriller. Aja and producing partner Gregory Levesseur will rework the script by Jim Uhls, Joe Gangemi, Kieran Mulroney, and Michelle Mulroney. The concept is that the worst aspects of a human being are unleashed the first time he looks at himself in a mirror. Shooting will begin in the fall.

Brad Cutter Ruined My Life ... Again
Warner Bros. has bought Joe Nussbaum's (George Lucas in Love) spec script. The comedy revolves around a high-school nerd who grows up to get a good job and a beautiful girlfriend, only to lose his sanity and just about everything else when his company hires a man who was the most popular guy in his high school and had made his life a living hell.

The Next Nickelodeon Project
Nickelodeon Movies and The Collective are teaming to produce an action comedy film starring Drake Bell and Josh Peck, leads of the Nick series Drake & Josh. The untitled project, to be penned by series creator Dan Schneider and writing partner Steve Molaro, will center on a wealthy and sheltered young man who receives a crash course in life experience from a slacker.

Source: Variety