New DVDs

The New York Times runs a short piece every week that highlights a new DVD release. In typical Times fashion, this piece is usually more interesting than your standard list of new releases.

This week they’ve put the focus on a box set of German Expressionist films, one that includes The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari – a film that is among the more famous Expressionist films. I can remember sitting in a dark screening room in college and watching Caligari for a film class. It was a warm night, and the room didn’t have an efficient air conditioner - yet this strange silent film, with its sharp shadows and outsized performances, managed to keep me awake.

You can find the link to the Times piece here. If you’re just looking for a brief list of some of the more interesting DVD’s released this week, you can find one below.

German Expressionism Collection (The Hands of Orlac / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Secrets of a Soul / Warning Shadows)

Into the Wild
Sean Penn’s adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s excellent nonfiction book.

TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 2 (The Divorcee / A Free Soul / Night Nurse / Three on a Match / Female)

Billy Wilder Gift Set (The Apartment / The Fortune Cookie / Some Like it Hot / Kiss Me Stupid)
Two of Wilder’s great films, along with two of his lesser. The good ones are on sale individually.

My Kid Could Paint That
A documentary that charts the sudden, art-world fame of a toddler. Her paintings were compared to those of Jackson Pollack. True story – which is good, because otherwise I wouldn’t have believed it.

12 Angry Men
A reissue of this great jury room drama starring Peter Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Ed Begley Sr., Martin Balsam, and a host of other character actors.

101 Dalmations
The original, animated version.

Doctor Who - Planet of Evil (Episode 81)
If you’re a fan of Doctor Who – especially of the days when the BBC produced this sci-fi show on a tiny budget – then you may want to take a look at this title. Both the show's original run and its new incarnation have their charms. This episode is from the Tom Baker (the fourth Doctor) era. If that last sentence means nothing to you, then this is not for you.

Doctor Who - Destiny of the Daleks (Ep. 104)
More Tom Baker.