New on DVD: May 2

Credit: Amazon.ca

Martin Scorsese follows George Harrison’s career path in this three hour documentary

PICK OF THE WEEK:

George Harrison: Living in the Material World

Martin Scorsese directed this in-depth look at the life and career of musician George Harrison, with equal attention given to his time spent with The Beatles and his later solo career as well as the importance of spirituality in his life. Archival film footage (including great personal film of the man himself at home with friends and family) and interviews with many contemporaries make this three-hour documentary a must-see for his fans. (Warner)

DVDs:

Haywire

Former American Gladiator Gina Carano stars as Mallory Kane, an elite super soldier who finds herself betrayed by her employers and determined to protect her family and get her revenge in this high-stakes thriller from director Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11) Co-starring Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum and Michael Fassbender.

Joyful Noise

Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah play small-town church choir leaders who disagree on the best way to lead their choir to the national championships in the feel-good soulful musical from writer-director Todd Graff (Bandslam). (Warner)

New Year’s Eve

Everyone and their dog (including Sarah Jessica Parker; Ashton Kutcher; Robert De Niro; and Katherine Heigl) stars in this convoluted mash-up of every romantic comedy cliché imaginable from director Garry Marshall, who had some success with this a couple of years ago with Valentine’s Day. (Warner)

Tomorrow When the War Began

Based on the YA novel by John Marsden, this Down Under Red Dawn follows the adventures of a group of Australian teens whose country is invaded while they are away camping. Without any other choice, they band together to bring down the enemy themselves. (eOne)

She’s Not Our Sister

When their father’s funeral brings a family together, the arrival of an unknown sibling turns the entire affair into an emotional disaster. (Image)

Men in Black 2 (Blu-ray)

Just in time to get ready for the third film in this entertaining franchise, you can get this first sequel to the hit 1997 action/sci-fi/comedy starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as secret agents hunting down a deadly alien disguised as a beautiful model (Lara Flynn-Boyle). BONUS FEATURES include audio commentary from director Barry Sonnenfeld and much more. (Sony)

MUSIC ON DVD:

Phil Collins: Live at Montreaux 2004 (Eagle Rock)

This DVD (and Blu-ray) not only offers up Collins’ 2004 appearance at the legendary festival (where his 25-song set includes such classics as “Against All Odds” and “In the Air Tonight”) but also includes a 13-song bonus concert from 1996 (which covers much of the same musical ground but includes a duet with Tony Bennett on “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”) which has this release clocking in at over 3 hours. (Eagle Rock)

TV ON DVD:

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

When Charles Dickens died in 1870, he left a half-finished manuscript entitled The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the ending of which has been attempted many time over the last century. For this new adaptation, writer Gwyneth Hughes (the BBC/HBO miniseries Five Days) has surmised her own conclusion for this illicit tale of choirmaster John Jasper (Matthew Ryhs of Brothers and Sisters) who becomes unnaturally obsessed over his nephew’s teenage fiancée Rosa Bud (Tamzin Merchant). (eOne)

Great Expectations

In this new three-part adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, a young orphan named Pip (played by Oscar Kennedy and then later by Douglas Booth as an adult) reluctantly helps out an escaped criminal (Ray Winstone of London Boulevard) and then finds himself loaned out to a mysterious woman (X-Files’ Gillian Anderson) to be a friend to her adopted daughter. (eOne)

Woman of Substance Trilogy

Based on the novels of Barbara Taylor Bradford, this series of TV movies about a poor maid who rises above her station in turn-of-the-century England to become a retail giant. In the first film, 1984’s A Woman of Substance, Jenny Seagrove plays young Emma Harte, whose tragic life never slows her determined climb in the business world. A young Liam Neeson co-stars as Irishman Blackie O’Neill. The second film, Hold the Dream (1986) Deborah Kerr returns as the elder Emma Harte, who battles with her granddaughter Paula (played by Jenny Seagrove in a new role) over the future of the family business. The third film in the trilogy, 1992’s To Be the Best, Lindsay Wagner takes over the role of Paula with Anthony Hopkins co-starring as her chief of security as they struggle against other family members to save their business from other family members. (Acorn)

Covert Affairs: Season Two

Golden Globe nominee Piper Perabo returns as Annie Walker, a CIA trainee who was suddenly and mysteriously promoted to field operative in this new action-spy series. Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham) is the blind military intelligence officer that is assigned to lead her as she goes about her new and dangerous life. All 11 episodes are available on this 3-disc set. (Universal)

Suits: Season One

Gabriel Macht (The Spirit) and Patrick J. Adams (Pretty Little Liars) star in this light-hearted legal drama about top Manhattan attorney Harvey Specter (Macht) who becomes a partner at his firm who takes a chance and hires a Harvard dropout with a photographic memory named Mike Ross (Adams) as his new associate, both facts that must be kept secret from everyone.  In the feature-length pilot episode, Mike must prove that he is worthy of this opportunity while still staying out of the radar of everyone, especially Harvey’s cut-throat rival Louis (Rick Hoffman) and the firm’s managing partner Jessica (Gina Torres). This 3-DVD set contains all 12 episodes. (Universal)

Who Do You Think You Are?: Season Two (Acorn)

This 2-disc set contains all 8 episodes of the American version of the long-running British unscripted series which searches out the ancestry of celebrities. Included in this fascinating set of episodes are Steve Buscemi, Rosie O’Donnell, Lionel Richie and Kim Cattrall (whose episode includes a visit to Vancouver to see her mother). (Acorn)

The Dick Van Dyke Show: Carl Reiner’s Favorites

Creator and co-star Carl Reiner (who played the irascible boss Alan Brady on the show) presents his favourite episodes of the legendary sitcom on this 3-disc set. How he managed to just choose the 20 episodes offered here is a mystery, but there are some true classics including Never Name a Duck (which dealt with son Richie’s pet duck dying) and Gesundheit, Darling (in which Rob becomes convinced he’s allergic to his family). (Image)