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Just out on DVD
"Earth": James Earl Jones narrates this story of three animal families and their journeys across the planet.
"Meteor": The NBC mini- series is a throwback to 1950s disaster movies.
"Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fifth Season": You can get caught up with the antics on Wisteria Lane.
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'New in Town' taps old tricks
"New in Town" Grade D-: Renee Zellweger plays a company executive sent to shape up a small factory. It is bad enough when a movie uses a worn-out plot gimmick.
"New in Town" multiplies the disappointment by turning to a string of familiar film elements. The result is such a dull, unimaginative and poorly photographed movie that, if it were to move into the house next door, you'd want to change ZIP codes.
"Powder Blue" Grade B: All of the advance publicity for this film had to do with Jessica Biel's nude scenes. It is a shame the focus was not more on the stand-out performances by Biel, Forest Whitaker, Alejandro Romero and Ray Liotta. Even Kris Kristofferson and Patrick Swayze are memorable in minor roles.
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New DVDs: 'Pelham' director turns up the tension
"The Taking of Pelham 123" Grade B+: A subway dispatcher (Denzel Washington) must deal with a man (John Travolta) who has taken hostages.
Director Tony Scott has manipulated the film's design to get the maximum interaction from his stars. That's one major reason "Pelham" is such a thrill ride.
Travolta is like a playful dog when he gets these kind of over-the-top characters. Washington, who added a few pounds to play the part, always seems comfortable in the everyguy role.
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Fresh 'Call Girl' comes to DVD
"Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season Two" Grade B+: The series about the life of Belle, a high priced prostitute, works because of Billie Piper's performance. Her straightforward approach makes the character both powerful and vulnerable.
The second season of the series that originally aired on Showtime focuses on what happens when Belle commits the ultimate sin: she falls in love.
She struggles with how much of her life she should reveal and the consequences of sharing her story.
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Gaining some ‘Leverage’
“Leverage: The 1st Season” Grade B: Timothy Hutton stars in this TNT drama about a group of thieves, hackers and grifters who are a modern-day band of Robin Hoods. They like to get revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize others.
Hutton plays the leader of the band of techno vigilantes that includes Gina Bellman (“Coupling”), Christian Kane (“Into the West”), Beth Riesgraf (“Alvin and the Chipmunks”) and Aldis Hodge (“Friday Night Lights”).
The series is a little “Mission: Impossible” and a little “It Takes a Thief.” Clever writing makes it a fun series.
"Burn Notice: Season Two": Jeffrey Donovan plays a spy who has been disavowed.
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 2": Brenda Hampton's drama touches on the highs and lows of family life.
"What Goes Up": A group of social misfits look at the challenges of life and love. Hilary Duff stars.
"Everwood: The Complete Second Season": Treat Williams plays a widowed doctor who moves his family to a small town.
"Dough Boys": Wood Harris stars in this story of the efforts by four young men to escape the pull of the streets.
"Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail": Madea (Tyler Perry) lands behind bars.
"Family Guy: Volume Seven": Outlandish animated TV series from Seth MacFarlane.
"Friday the 13th": New version. Same killing. Amanda Righetti and Jared Padalecki star.
"Saving Grace: Season Two": Holly Hunter plays a detective who has been given a second chance to clean up her life.
"Morning Light": The documentary looks at the selection and training of a crew to compete in the Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
"Bob the Builder: Truck Teamwork": The DVD of the animated series comes with a free truck toy.
"Rifftrax": Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett poke fun at movies like "Night of the Living Dead' and "Reefer Madness."
"The Transformers: The Complete First Season": The DVD is for the 25th anniversary of the animated show.
"The Hunger: The Complete First Season": Terence Stamp hosts this horror anthology series.
"Elsewhere": Two friends find themselves in the middle of a dark mystery. Anna Kendrick stars.
"The Perfect Sleep": A man returns to a world of assassins to save the woman he loves.
"Dominick Dunne: After the Party": The documentary turns the cameras on noted journalist.
"Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Volume 2": The DVD features 14 cartoons from the 1940s and 1950s.
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