Selected home-video releases:
“Gridiron Gang” – A dedicated mentor takes a scruffy band of youths and whips them into a tight, disciplined sports team overnight. What a great idea for a new genre of inspirational flicks.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s the man this time in Hollywood’s ceaseless parade of feel-good sports tales that are based on true stories, playing a probation officer who teams with a colleague (Xzibit) to convert a gang of juvenile delinquents into a high-school football squad. DVD extras include deleted scenes and features on The Rock and the football training the actors underwent. $28.95. (Sony)
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” – Those wondering how chainsaw-wielding madman Leatherface came to be now have an answer in yet another needless prequel of gore and guts from the Hollywood horror factory.
Setting up the action for the 2003 remake of Tobe Hooper’s original low-budget shocker, this new installment spills the beans on abandoned baby Leatherface’s adoption by a twisted cannibal clan, his upbringing as a self-mutilator and animal torturer and emergence as a full-blooded psycho killer.
The DVD is available in both the R-rated theatrical release and an unrated edition. Among the extras are deleted scenes and commentary. $28.98. (New Line)
Other new releases
“Employee of the Month” – It’s amiable slackers vs. insufferable super workers in this lame on-the-job comedy starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard. Along with a handful of behind-the-scenes features, the DVD has deleted scenes and commentary. DVD, $28.98; Blu-ray disc, $39.99. (Lionsgate)
“Border Radio,” “Mouchette” – Two art-house titles land on DVD: “Border Radio,” the 1987 debut feature from Allison Anders (“Gas Food Lodging,” “Mi Vida Loca”), and “Mouch-ette,” Robert Bresson’s 1967 drama of troubled adolescence. $39.95 each. (Criterion)
TV on DVD
“The King of Queens: 7th Season” – Television’s favorite delivery man (Kevin James), his wife (Leah Remini) and her weird father (Jerry Stiller) are back. $39.95. (Sony)
“Doctor Who: The Complete Second Series” – Another season, another actor stepping into the title role in this latest incarnation of the British sci-fi series. David Tennant debuts as the scientist who travels through space and time to save the Earth. $99.98. (BBC)
“The Best of Hootenanny” – Johnny Cash, Ian and Sylvia, Judy Collins, Doc Watson and Miriam Makeba are among the musicians captured in this three-disc set that features almost 90 musical performances from the short-lived 1960s folk show. $44.98. (Shout)
“The Street: The Complete First Season” – Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks and Timothy Spall head the cast of this British series set among neighbors. $29.98 (Koch)
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
