TV

New on DVD: December 11

This week on DVD, an Jeremy Renner steps into the role vacated by Matt Damon in the fourth installment of the Bourne series

Credit: Amazon.ca

Jeremy Renner steps into the starring role in The Bourne Legacy

PICK OF THE WEEK:

The Bourne Legacy

While this fourth film is a sequel to the others, Jeremy Renner does not take over the role of Matt Damon’s character Jason Bourne, but rather plays another agent – this one the subject of genetic experimentation – who sets out to find out the truth behind Operation Outcome. Despite that, this film still packs a lot of action and a pretzel of a plot that confirms that this franchise could keep on running for years in the future.

Ted

In Seth MacFarlane’s first live-action departure from his animated empire (Family Guy, American Dad), he voices the teddy bear that belongs to John (Mark Wahlberg), who struggles with what to do with this obnoxious toy now that he’s trying to have an adult relationship with someone (Mila Kunis). Fortunately, he doesn’t stray too far from the rude and raunchy humour that has made him a millionaire and even adds a bit of heart to this funny film. (Universal)

Ice Age: Continental Drift

In the latest sequel to this seemingly endless animated series of films, Manny, Diego and Sid find themselves set adrift on an iceberg where they meet new friends and confront new enemies – in the form of a band of ruthless pirates.

Collision Earth

When a solar flare sends Mercury out of orbit and careening for the earth, a rogue scientist (Kirk Acevedo) and his astronaut wife (Diane Farr) go against the government in order to try a far-fetched plan to divert the end of the world. (Anchor Bay)

CLASSIC RE-RELEASES:

Dick Tracy

Warren Beatty’s 1990 brightly-coloured adaptation of the classic comic strip detective Dick Tracy gets the high-def treatment with this new blu-ray release. Tracy gets more than he bargained for when he not only takes on ruthless gangster Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino), but also has his relationship with Tess Trueheart (Glenne Headly) by the slinky lounge singer Breathless Mahoney (Madonna).

The Island

From the mind of Peter Benchley (who also wrote the novel Jaws) comes this thrilling adventure from 1980 about a British journalist (Michael Caine) who goes to Bermuda to investigate the disappearance of several ships. Instead he discovers that the ancestors of 17th century pirates still secretly live amid the country’s many islands where they continue to carry on their bloody plundering. (Scream Factory)

TV ON DVD:

Girls: The Complete First Season

Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture) created, directs and stars in this HBO comedy-drama series (executive produced by Judd Apatow) about a group of 20-something women making their way in New York, whose characters she describes as falling somewhere between those in Gossip Girl and Sex and the City. This 2-disc set contains all 10 episodes.

Futurama: Vol. 7

This 2-disc set features the latest 13 episodes of this cult animated series including the introduction of Bender’s offspring from his relationship with a pop machine; Amy and Leela’s dependency on nectar during the Butterfly Derby and a casino heist spoof in which the team seek vengeance on robot gangsters. (Fox)

The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Three

After two seasons, Comedy Central cancelled this controversial comedy series in 2008. Luckily, Silverman had fans over at the smaller Logo channel and they helped bring this third and final season to air just over a year later. In these remaining 10 episodes (on a 2-disc set), Sarah doesn’t venture far from the outrageous humour that she has become famous for including one with guest star Andy Samburg as her now-adult imaginary friend who has adopted some very grown-up habits and another with her gay friends Brian and Steve making a robot baby they name “Breve”. (Shout Factory)

Mission: Impossible: The Complete Series

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to sit down and make your way through this incredible box set of the entire original series (and both seasons of the less-than-incredible reboot from the late 1980s). This 56-disc set (in a cool bright-red explosive container) features all  171 episodes from 1966 until 1973 plus the 35 episodes from the later series and an entire disc of new features including an audio recording of the famous theme song with vocals and much more. (Paramount)

JAG: The Complete Series

This military drama which began airing in 1995 and ran for an entire 10 seasons starred David James Elliott as Capt. “Harm” Rabb, Jr., a Naval lawyer who tackled cases involving the Navy. This 56-disc set features all 227 episodes along with a collectible booklet, a replica coin and a bonus disc featuring all-new features. (Paramount)

Gunsmoke: Season Seven – Vol. 1

This five-disc set features the first 17 episodes of the 1961 season of the legendary Western series which starred James Arness, Dennis Weaver and Amanda Blake. Among the guest stars in these episodes are Leonard Nimoy, Larry Linville and Wayne Rogers (both from MASH), Harry Dean Stanton and others. (Paramount)