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For people who aren't acrophobic: Man on Wire

Man on Wire is one of those rare documentaries that come around every once in a blue moon that literally everyone has something good to say about. This one, which chronicles Philippe Petit's dance between the Twin Towers in 1974 supported by a single wire, earned a rare 100% score over at Rotten Tomatoes. And this isn't a case of one of those meager samples of ten to 15 reviews. More than 130 critics had something positive to say about the 90-minute flick, which hit theaters in the summer. To be blunt, it's the site's best-reviewed movie of all time.

Certainly an influence for the daredevils of today (i.e. David Blaine), Frenchman Petit did the unthinkable when he pulled off his infamous New York City stunt without giving notice to authorities. Here, Petit's adventurous day is examined through archived footage and interviews with the man's co-conspirators, as well the adventurer himself.

Disc includes: Philippe Petit's Sydney Harbor Bridge Crossing (1973), Philippe Petit interview, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers short film

For people who like good mind-blowing television: The Wire: The Complete Series

Regarded by many to be the greatest drama program ever to grace U.S. television screens, HBO's The Wire ended its run in March 2008 after five gripping seasons (totalling 60 episodes) set in Baltimore. Each season of the drama took on a different facet of the city, including (in order) drug trade, the port, city bureaucracy, schools and print news media. Creator David Simon once said in an interview that his show is about "the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals, and how ... you are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution you've committed to."

The series, which is available in a five-season gift set today, never realized any commercial success or a single Emmy, but the regulars that watched this one religiously certainly were grateful for HBO's fine product. Simon recognized a number of reasons for his show's inability to attract large audiences like its poor time slot, plot complexity and esoteric slang.

Disc includes: N/A

For people who don't wince a bit at any of the seven words you probably aren't suppose to say on television: Deadwood: The Complete Series (Set)

While I'm at it, I may as well shift your attention to another HBO series receiving the full series treatment today. It's Deadwood, that vulgar, western drama that ran for 36 episodes over three seasons.

The series, which aired its finale in August 2006, was effectively canceled by HBO a few months prior to the start of that season when the network did not pick up the options for the drama's lead actors. Some time later there was talk of making two, two-hour TV movies, but discussion on the idea has since died.

Disc includes: The Meaning of Endings featurette, The Read Deadwood: Out of the Ashes featurette, Q&A with Cast and Creative Team featurette, Deadwood 360 Tour featurette, Al Swearengen Audition Reel featurette

December 9, 2008

AC/DC: Church Of Rock, The Bon Scott Years
Al Green: Live in '72
Another Gay Sequel: Guys Gone Wild
Bob Dylan: Changing Tracks (Widescreen)
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story (Unrated)
Dumb And Dumber (Unrated)
Flow
Gunsmoke: Season 3, Volume 1
Happy Days: Seasons 1- 4 (Set)
Happy Days: The Fourth Season
Horton Hears a Who! (Special Edition)
I Am Legend (Collector's Edition)
Ice T: Live in Montreux 1995
Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm: Live In Concert
Incubus: Look Alive
Jackass: The Movie (Widescreen Special Edition)
Jet Li's Fearless (Director's Cut)
Resident Evil 1-3 (Set)
Swingtown: The First Season

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