Wahlberg stays on target in 'Shooter'
Selected home-video releases:ShooterMark Wahlberg continues his decent run, following up on last year’s solid sports hit “The Invincible” and his Academy Award nomination for “The Departed” with this tale of an ace sharpshooter framed in a presidential-assassination attempt.
Wahlberg plays a former military marksman who has become disillusioned with the government but is lured back into the fold to help scope out the people behind a plot to bump off the commander in chief, only to end up on the lam after he’s fingered as the trigger man. The action thriller is accompanied by audio commentary from director Antoine Fuqua, while the DVD also has seven deleted scenes and a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes.Black Snake MoanSamuel L. Jackson singing the blues, Justin Timberlake playing a jittery lover, Christine Ricci chained to a radiator — what more could you want in a movie? Jackson plays a former bluesman who finds a slutty Southern chick (Ricci) unconscious along the road and takes it on himself to heal her body, mind and soul by chaining her in his house until she mends her ways — and in the process helps him mend his own.
Timberlake co-stars as Ricci’s soldier boyfriend, who has a serious case of the nerves. The DVD comes with deleted scenes and commentary by director Craig Brewer (“Hustle and Flow”), along with three behind-the-scenes featurettes.PrideTerrence Howard and Bernie Mac star in a standard-issue inspirational sports tale based on the true story of a black man in the 1970s who creates a world-class swimming program for inner-city youths in Philadelphia.
Howard plays the former competitive swimmer who, unable to find a job coaching despite a good education and resume, is hired to help close down a youth centre, where his idle efforts to interest black teens in swimming gradually turn into a passion for them and a career for him. Mac co-stars as the facility’s janitor who becomes Howard’s man Friday. The DVD comes with deleted and extended scenes and commentary by director Sunu Gonera.<$>Cult Camp ClassicsTrue cinematic milestones such as “The Giant Behemoth,” “Hot Rods to Hell” and “Attack of the 50-Foot Woman” are gathered in four collections of cult flicks from Hollywood’s schlock vaults. The three-disc, thematically arranged sets each contain three movies: The “Sci-Fi Thrillers” set has “The Giant Behemoth,” “Queen of Outer Space” and “Attack of the 50-Foot Woman,” the tale of a scorned wife who gets really big payback after an alien ray gun makes her the tallest girl in class; the “Women in Peril” set packs “The Big Cube,” “Trog” and “Caged”; the “Terrorised Travelers” set has “Skyjacked,” “Hot Rods to Hell” and “Zero Hour!”, a midair disaster flick whose plot was the basis for the spoof “Airplane!”; and the “Historical Epics” set offers “Land of the Pharaohs,” “The Colossus of Rhodes” and “The Prodigal.” Each movie also is available separately.TV on DVD“High School Musical: The Concert” — The enormously popular Disney Channel movie hits the concert stage as the teen stars perform songs from their big show. The DVD gives fans a chance to select different camera angles, while co-star Lucas Grabeel is host for a backstage visit with the cast. DVD, $19.99. (Disney)
“Psych: The Complete First Season” — A phony psychic (James Roday) sets up shop as a crime investigator, with his disbelieving buddy (Dule Hill) on hand to help out and keep him honest. The first 15 episodes come in a four-disc set, along with commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and Roday’s audition reel. DVD set, $59.98. (Universal)
“Monk: Season Five”>— Tony Shalhoub returns as TV’s favourite crime-solver with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Year five’s 16 episodes are packed in a four-disc set, accompanied by commentary by cast and crew. DVD set, $59.98. (Universal)
“Reno 911! The Complete Fourth Season Uncensored” — The over-the-top cops of Reno, Nev., return for more mayhem on the streets in the spoof of crime reality shows. A two-disc set contains season four’s 13 episodes, with cast commentary and an extended scene.
“Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. — The Second Season̶$> — The spinoff of “The Andy Griffith Show” enters its second tour of duty with Jim Nabors as the goofy hick creating havoc for the Marine Corps. Season two’s 30 episodes arrive in a five-disc set.
“The New Adventures of Batman,” “The New Adventures of Superman” — The DC Comics heroes are back in two animated series. The “Superman” show from the mid-1960s features the Man of Steel in 36 six-minute episodes on two discs, while the 1970s “Batman” series has 16 half-hour episodes on two discs, with Adam West and Burt Ward of the 1960s live-action series doing the voices of Batman and Rob
“Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 11” <$>— Mike Nelson, Joel Hodgson and their robot pals continue mocking really bad movies with a four-disc set featuring their running commentary on the Z-grade flicks “Ring of Terror,” “Indestructible Man,” “Tormented” and “Horrors of Spider Island.” DVD set, $59.95.