May 2004 DVD & Blu-rays

With Tom Cruise • Ken Watanabe • Tony Goldwyn • Billy Connolly • Hiroyuki Sanada • Shun Sugata • Edward Zwick • Timothy Spall • Shin Koyamada • Seizo Fukumoto • Schichinosuke Nakamura • Koyuki • Masato Harada • Sosuke Ikematsu • Aoi Minato

Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Woodrow Algren (Tom Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on.

With Jeremy Piven • Matthew Goode • Mark Harmon • Annabella Sciorra • Andy Cadiff

Budding teenage beauty Anna Foster (Mandy Moore) wants the American dream: life and liberty to pursue happiness. But as the only child of the President of the United States, every detail of Anna's life is constantly monitored by the media, the public and her very protective parents — who are backed up by a battalion of Secret Service agents that safeguard Anna from any danger, including the perils of first dates. Charming and irreverent, Anna just wants the freedom to live life like any other teenager — which means ditching the agents who are seriously curbing her good times. While on a diplomatic trip to Europe with her parents, Anna extracts a promise from her father, the President, which allows her a night alone, unescorted. But when her dad has a change of heart, Anna decides to take things into her own hands. In a wild escape, incognito Anna meets mysterious stranger Ben Calder (Matthew Goode), who reluctantly aids her European getaway. Reveling in her newfound independence, Anna decides to take Europe by storm, accompanied by dashing Ben. As Anna's madcap European adventure takes her farther from her family and brings her closer to Ben, she's dreading the day her holiday will come to an end. Because the most powerful man in the free world is her father, Anna knows that she has a lot more to worry about than getting grounded. But before she can face the President, she has to find a way tell Ben the truth about her identity and risk getting her heart broken — the one thing her father can't fix.

With Jeremy Sumpter • Olivia Williams • Jason Isaacs • P.J. Hogan • Amy Pascal • Lucy Fisher • Ludivine Sagnier • Rachel Hurd Wood • Richard Briers • Harry Newell • Freddie Popplewell • Rupert Simoneon • Patrick McCormick • Douglas Wick • Michael Goldenberg • J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan is the boy who won't age, who lives in Neverland with other ageless kids, the Lost Boys. Tinkerbelle, a fairy, gives three children: Wendy, John, and Michael Darling the ability to fly; and soon they're off to Neverland, where they're soon in battle with the evil Captain Hook and his band of pirates.

With Scarlett Johansson • Cillian Murphy • Colin Firth • Tom Wilkinson • Peter Webber • Essie Davis • Alakina Mann • Judy Parfitt • Leslie Woodhall

A speculative account of the life of Griet, a 16-year-old girl who appears in Johannes Vermeer's painting of the same title. Set in 17th century Holland, Griet is employed by Vermeer as a housemaid to care for his six children, his jealous pregnant wife and his uncommunicative mother-in-law. Tensions arise when Vermeer's wife suspects intimacy between her husband and the girl--and then climax, when the wife discovers that Griet borrowed her precious pearl earrings to sit for the now famous portrait.

With Helen Mirren • Celia Imrie • Penelope Wilton • Julie Walters • John Alderton • Geraldine James • Ciaran Hinds • Linda Bassett • Annette Crosbie • Philip Glenister • Nigel Cole

"Calendar Girls" is based on the true story of a group of women who bare all - or nearly all - for charity and become international celebrities as a result. The Women's Institute, in Great Britain, encourages the ancient skills of jam-making, flower pressing, knitting and baking. So when a group of extraordinary women are looking for a new way to raise money, they decide to take the annual WI calendar, normally featuring landscapes or flowers, and create something traditional - but with a twist. Behind the baked goods, the apple pressing and the flower arranging, the women are completely nude.

With Michele Caucheteux • Jean-Claude Donda • Michel Robin • Sylvain Chomet • Paul Cadieux • Didier Brunner

Adopted by his grandmother, Madame Souza, Champion is a lonely little boy. Noticing that this lad is never happier than on a bicycle, Madame Souza puts him through a rigorous training process. Years go by and Champion becomes worthy of his name. Now his ready to enter the world-famous cycling race, the Tour de France. However during this cycling contest two mysterious men in black kidnap Champion. Madame Souza and her faithful dog Bruno set out to rescue him. Their quest takes them across the ocean to a giant Megalopolis called Belleville where they encounter the renowned "Triplets of Belleville", three eccentric female music-hall stars from the 30's who decide to take Madame Souza and Bruno under their wing. Thanks to Bruno's brilliant sense of smell, the brave duo are soon on to Champion's trail. But will they succeed in beating the devilish plans of the evil French mafia?

With Pooja Kumar • Bharati Achrekar • Sireesha Katragadda • Anjan Srivastava • Reef Karim • Raj Nidimoru • Krishna DK • Anupam Mittal

A persistent cell phone ring connects four crisscrossing stories of Indian Americans in this light-hearted movie set in the post Information Technology boom: two long-distance buddies who share every waking thought; two parents who delight in arguing with each other and are getting to know their future daughter-in-law Jenni, and their son who is juggling all of them; jobless roommates who can't fathom their friend's obsession for a girl back in India; and a newlywed, forced-to-stay-at-home girl who creates a fascinating world for herself within her home. Everything is conneted in this warm, quirky comedy that says the world is really, really small.

With John F. Kennedy • Errol Morris • Robert McNamara • Fidel Castro • Barry Goldwater • Lyndon Johnson • Julie Ahlberg • Michael Williams

Robert McNamara, former Secretary of Defense during the JFK and LBJ administrations, was one of the key figures in the Vietnam War. This documentary is built around 20 hours of interviews and additional archival footage of Mr. Namara, who later became president of the World Bank and broadened his global influence.

With Jeremy Piven • Anna Faris • Charlie Sheen • Regina Hall • Anthony Anderson • Eddie Griffin • Denise Richards • Simon Rex • Craig Mazin • William Forsythe • Hayden Schlossberg • Brian Lynch • Leslie Nielsen • Jenny McCarthy • Camryn Manheim • Pamela Anderson • George Carlin • Macy Gray • Ja Rule • Darrell Hammond • Peter Boyle • Fat Joe • Timothy Stack • Jason Friedberg • Aaron Seltzer • David Zucker • Pat Proft • Robert K. Weiss • Alyson Fouse • Jonathan Hurwitz • Phil Beauman

The comedy spoof series that knows no fear is at it again with its funniest installment yet. Taking shots at the latest crop of block-busters, "Scary Movie 3" irreverently roasts "The Ring", "Signs", "Matrix Reloaded", "The Hulk", "8 Mile", "The Others "and more, as well as pop culture trends such as "American Idol". The film brings director David Zucker back to the genre he helped create with the classics "Airplane!", "Naked Gun" and "Naked Gun 2 1/2". The cast of "Scary Movie 3" includes Charlie Sheen as the aliens-attracting farmer Tom and Denise Richards as his hapless wife Annie; Eddie Griffin as the prophetic Orpheus and Queen Latifah as his very un-Matrixy wife Laquisha; Pamela Anderson and Jenny McCarthy as Catholic School Girls; Leslie Nielsen as the President of The United States; Simon Rex as rap-star wannabe George; Jeremy Piven as reporter Ross Giggins; Camryn Manheim as the formidable Trooper Champlin; Anna Faris as eager anchorwoman Cindy Campbell; Regina Hall as eerie school teacher Brenda Meeks; William Forsythe as The Glench; Anthony Anderson as rap promoter Mahalik; as well as George Carlin. Fat Joe, Simon Cowell, Method Man, Redman, Macy Gray, Master P., Ja Rule, D.L. Hughley, Wu Tang Clan and The Coors Twins.

With Djimon Hounsou • Samantha Morton • Paddy Considine • Emma Bolger • Sarah Bolger • Jim Sheridan • Kirsten Sheridan • Nye Heron • Arthur Lappin • Paul Myler • Naomi Sheridan

With their two young daughters in tow, Johnny and Sarah emigrate from Ireland to New York City in pursuit of a dream. The family uses ingenuity and sheer strength of will to make the most of their new life. Ultimately it is their kindness to a stranger and that stranger's response in return that builds their new home.

With Toni Collette • Lynette Curran • Yumiko Tanaka • Gotaro Tsunashima • Matthew Dyktynski • Kate Atkinson • John Howard • Bill Young • Reg Evans • George Shevtsov • Justine Clarke • Sue Brooks

Sandy, a geologist, finds herself stuck on a field trip to the Pilbara desert with a Japanese man she finds inscrutable, annoying and decidedly arrogant. Hiromitsu?s view of her is not much better. Things go from bad to worse when they become stranded in one of the remotest regions on earth. Japanese Story is a journey of change and discovery for its two lead characters.

With Kurt Russell • Patricia Clarkson • Noah Emmerich • Gavin O'Connor • Gordon Gray • Kenneth Mitchell • Michael Mantenuto • Debra Martin Chase • Nathan West • Eddie Cahill • Patrick O'Brien Dempsey • Eric-Peter Kaiser • Mark Ciardi

Kurt Russell stars as coach Herb Brooks in the story of how the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team toppled the seemingly invincible Soviet Union squad to capture the gold medal. A former U.S. player himself, Brooks was the last skater to be cut from the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, the most recent one to win the gold medal before Brooks became the team coach. He cobbled together a group of players and taught them to excel at the European game. Even so, the Russian team had won four consecutive gold medals and was so good that it defeated a team of National Hockey League all-stars. The U.S. team wasn't expected to even make the medal rounds. But led by Brooks, the team defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinal round, then bested Finland in the finals to win the gold.

With Adam Scott • Ice Cube • Christina Milian • Faizon Love • Joseph Kahn • Martin Henderson • Jaime Pressly • Will Yun Lee • Fredro Starr • Matt Schulze

Set in the fast-paced world of motorcycle racing, this action movie shows what happens to long-time biker Cary Ford (Martin Henderson) when he is framed by a long-time rival, Henry (Matt Schulze), the leader of a biker gang called the Hellions for the murder of Sleepy D, the brother of Trey Wallace (Ice Cube), the leader of the Machine, the most notorious and feared biker gang in the country. Cary and his friends must make a run for it as they have both Trey and his Machine bikers and the FBI on their tails.

With Ben Affleck • Uma Thurman • Aaron Eckhart • John Davis • Michael C. Hall • Scott Frank • Paul Giamatti • Kathryn Morris • John Woo • Colm Feore • Joe Morton • James Gray • Terence Chang • Dean Georgaris • Michael Hackett • Philip K. Dick

Based on the short story by Philip K. Dick, "Paycheck" is about world famous genius Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck), who does specialized projects for high-tech corporations. Once a job is complete, his memory is erased so as not to divulge any company secrets. Highly paid for his work, Jennings expects to earn $4.4 billion for his latest 5-year project, but upon completion of the job, instead of a big paycheck, he is given an envelope full of random objects and told that he has agreed to forfeit all payment. With his memory erased per usual, Jennings has no defense, until he discovers that the objects are clues to his past. Now, with the help of Rachel (Uma Thurman), the woman he has worked with and loved for the last three years, Jennings is in a race against time to put the pieces of his past together before the people he once worked for have him killed.

With Meagan Good • Steve Harvey • Marques Houston • Omarion Granberry • J Boog • Raz B • Lil Fizz • Jennifer Freeman • Christopher B. Stokes

Follows the competitive world of street dancing where crews battle for money and respect. Elgin (Marques Houston, IMX) and David (Omarion, B2K) are best friends and leaders of the best dance crew in the area. When another group challenges them to a battle, David and Elgin -- along with their buddies (Raz B, J Boog and Lil' Fizz of B2K) must create and perfect the most cutting edge moves to remain on top. The stakes are raised as friends double-cross each other and true motives are revealed. When the biggest battle comes to town, David and Elgin must work past their differences to prove that they are the best crew on the streets.

With Bernardino Terracciano • Ernesto Mahieux • Valerio Foglia Manzillo • Elisabetta Rocchetti • Lina Bernardi • Pietro Biondi • Marcella Granito

A man too small, a boy too tall, a girl with her mouth made over all meet by chance. An encounter that seems fated to have no story but, as fate would have it, it becomes the tormented chronicle of denied love. Peppino, the man too small, is a taxidermist. Valerio, the boy too tall, is a waiter. Deborah, the girl with her mouth made over, is one who continually changes jobs… all have different dreams, hidden needs, secret drives. They are three castaways trying to cling to the certainty of a love that can justify the common ills of living and make them normal. They are just as incapable of communicating the ideals of the others as they are incapable of accepting them, they will tragically become lost.

With Cate Blanchett • Ian McKellen • Peter Jackson • Viggo Mortensen • Sean Astin • Elijah Wood • Karl Urban • Liv Tyler • Marton Csokas • Hugo Weaving • Dominic Monaghan • Billy Boyd • Philippa Boyens • Stephen Sinclair • Bernard Hill • John Noble • Barrie M. Osborne • Fran Walsh • Phillippa Boyens

The third of the trilogy. As the shadow of Mordor grows across the land, Aragorn is revealed as the hidden heir to the ancient kings. Gandolf miraculously returns and defeats the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam leaves his master for the dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob; but Frodo is still alive--in the hands of the Orcs. And while the armies of the Dark Lord are massing--and the one ring comes ever closer to the Cracks of Doom.

With Sylvester Stallone • Jamie Foxx • Gabriel Byrne • Stuart Townsend • Melanie Griffith • Merv Griffin • Chris Hammond • Hal Holbrook • Patrick Bauchau • Jason Cerbone • Steve Heinze • Bo Hopkins • Dina Merrill • Damian Nieman • Carl Mazzocone • Ted Hartley • David Schnepp • Damien Nieman

Set in the world of high-stakes poker hustlers, this is the story of three conmen/hustlers (Gabriel Byrne, Stuart Townsend, Thandie Newton) looking for that one big take that they can all retire on. After they actually do pull a huge sting off with the help of someone called "The Dean" (Sylvester Stallone), they find themselves chased by a ripped-off gangster looking for revenge...

With Daniel Roebuck • Larry Pennell • Ossie Davis • Campbell • Reggie Bannister • Gigi Fast Elk Porter • Bob Ivy • Ella Joyce • Heidi Marnhout • Daniel Schweiger • Harrison Young • Don Coscarelli

Based on the Bram Stoker Award nominee short story by acclaimed author Joe R. Lansdale, "Bubba Ho-tep" tells the "true" story of what really did become of Elvis. We find the King (Campbell) as an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home, who switched identities with an Elvis impersonator years before his "death", then missed his chance to switch back. Elvis teams up with Jack (Davis), a fellow nursing home resident who thinks that he is actually President John F. Kennedy, and the two valiant old codgers sally forth to battle an evil Egyptian entity who has chosen their long-term care facility as his happy hunting grounds...

With Bill Paxton • Kevin Heffernan • Paul Soter • Conrad Hool • Lance Hool • Steve Lemme • Erik Stolhanske • Jordan Ladd • Samm Levine • M.C. Gainey • Tony Amendola • Julio Bekhor • Brittany Ann Daniel

The Broken Lizard gang is back and surrounded by wanton women on a booze-soaked island resort; but a machete-wielding killer is loose on the island, turning this tropical bacchanal into "Club Lizard". The Staff (the Broken Lizard guys) must try to stop (or hide) the bloodshed before they lose all of their customers. Literally. Broken Lizard is a group of five comedy writer/actors.

With Marc Frydman • Rip Torn • Marcia Gay Harden • Basil Iwanyk • Maura Tierney • Ray Romano • Christine Baranski • Gene Hackman • Fred Savage • June Squibb • Donald Petrie • Tom Schulman

Cast your ballot for big laughs when Gene Hackman and Ray Romano find themselves in a hilariously heated race for mayor of Mooseport, Maine. A local plumber (Romano) is plunged into the national spotlight when he takes on the former President of the United States (Hackman), who can't believe he's running against the man installing his toilets! To make matters worse, the ex-prez is trying to steal the election—and the affection of the handyman's girlfriend (Maura Tierney). Whoever wins, one thing's for sure: this town isn't small enough for the both of them!

With Lisa Brenner • Duane Martin • Jennifer Gareis • Christopher Wiehl • Alex Nesic • Michael Trucco • Charisma Carpenter • Michele Kelly • Lawrence Gay • Neal Nordlinger

Is it true? Weddings are the perfect aphrodisiac? Get set for one riotous weekend where this nugget of "every-guy-knows" will be proven yet again. This weekend Jay, Dewey, and Phil become part of that most coveted fraternity; groomsmen. Dewey and Jay leverage a bet on the weekend; Jay must have a pure one night stand. No morning cuddles, sappy promises, no setting up house; just sleep with a girl and walk away. In return Dewey puts a hold on his life's work; for three days he promises to remain celibate, putting aside his personal quest of 20,000 women (Wilt Chamberlain's record). The stakes are a 1959 mint convertible Thunderbird and Jay's younger sister. From the rehearsal dinner to the bedrooms of the estate, there's no limit to how far the guys will go in this irreverent romp through the days leading up to that final walk down the isle.