This Week on DVD and Blu-ray - August 5, 2008

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The term "dog days of summer" is attributed to the Greeks to refer to the time the Dog Star Sirius rose just before or concurrent with the sun. They believed the Dog Star caused the hot, stagnant days and sacrificed a brown dog to the Sirius. That's your history lesson of the week, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Now then, Sony pushed the release of "Starship Troopers" on Blu-Ray and some direct to DVD titles back a week. Smart move, it turns out. They have zero competition from any of the other major distributors-heck, there's no competition from anyone. The original Paul Verhoven film comes to high def for the first time (new DVD verson, too), as does the new "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder" (standard def also available). The second film, "Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation," is on regular DVD and, from what I've heard, it's not worth your time. High def and standard box sets are also on the shelf including all three "Troopers" movies. It should be noted Casper Van Dien returns for the new film and is joined by Jolene Blalock, perhaps best known as Sub-Commander T'Pol from "Star Trek: Enterprise."

Speaking of "Trek," the second season of "The Original Series" comes out this week, too. It's the remastered version...ya know, with the new CGI effects shots and a ploy by Paramount to rewrite history. (Hmmm...sounds like George Lucas and the theatrical editions of the Original Trilogy, doesn't it?) I find it funny, according to reports, there is no disc art, only one side with content. It makes sense if Paramount was planning on releasing these to HD-DVD as combo discs instead of straight up DVD's. Now the only question is when "Trek" finally makes the leap to Blu-Ray. Something to tie in with the new movie in May of 2009 makes sense, right?

Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film makes the jump to home video in regular and high def variations. It's "The Counterfeiters" and is the second Holocaust/World War II movie to win the same Oscar in as many years. In 2007, it went to "The Lives of Others." I figure we might have some Jodie Foster fans around here, so "Nim's Island" merits a mention. A (probably) over-priced Blu-Ray Disc and separate fullscreen and widescreen editions. (Okay, Warner, WHEN are we getting "Contact" on Blu-Ray? Huh?)

Perhaps the best mini-series in history, "Lonesome Dove," comes to us in new editions today. A now-obligatory standard DVD set and a Blu-Ray variant. Guys, do check this out. "Lonesome Dove" was made at a time when a TV mini-series was something to behold. It's only rivaled by "North and South" in scope and production value.

In any other week, I wouldn't waste space on the critically lambasted "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?" As it is, eh, it's out. Seek it out if you want. See if YOU can find bin Laden. No one else has been able to... On the same note-well, not the terrorist one, the "in any other week, not wasting space on..." one-the final set of episodes from the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" canon hits the shelf. It's Volume 3 of the 2001 series and introduces the Snake Men, among other slimy baddies.

I guess we can just jump into a couple fun titles like "Blood and Sex Nightmare" and "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers," the latter of which is a 25th Anniversary Edition! (Yes, it's a slow week.)

And, finally, in honor of our very own Mr. LoveHendrix!, I feel compelled to point out the release of "Experience Hendrix," essentially a greatest hits of Hendrix tribute concerts.

So, in the Blu-Ray rundown: "The Counterfeiters," "Lonesome Dove," "Nim's Island," "Starship Troopers," "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder," "Starship Troopers Trilogy."

Regular Def: "Blood and Sex Nightmare," "The Counterfeiters," "Experience Hendrix," "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2001) Volume 3," "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers," "Lonesome Dove," "Nim's Island" (fullscreen and widescreen), "Starship Troopers," "Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation," "Starship Troopers 3: Marauder," "Starship Troopers Trilogy," "Star Trek: The Original Series-Season 2 Remastered," "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden."

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