ClubHooligan.com - Burning it up at both ends

Web posted August 2, 2007

New on Video & DVD
'300,' 'Hot Fuzz' debut on home video

By DAVID GERMAIN
The Associated Press

This year's first $200 million hit was a marriage of ancient history and modern Hollywood bloodshed, filtered through the visual wizardry of computer-generated animation. "300," the adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel combines live-action actors with surrounding backgrounds added later through digital imagery, a process similar to that used on the earlier rendition of Miller's "Sin City." Gerard Butler stars as the Greek king who leads a hopelessly outnumbered band of 300 Spartans against a marauding Persian army at the battle of Thermopylae. The movie comes in a bare-bones single DVD edition or a two-disc DVD set, plus two choices of high-definition formats: a Blu-ray disc and a combination HD DVD and standard DVD disc. Extras on the two-disc, Blu-ray and HD DVD releases include additional scenes, background segments on the actors and their characters and commentary with director Zack Snyder. Single DVD, $28.98; two-disc DVD set, $34.99; Blu-ray disc, $34.99; HD DVD combo disc, $39.99.

Also new to DVD is "Last Stand of the 300: The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae," a History Channel documentary examining the history of the conflict and the tactics the Spartans used to hold off their attackers. DVD, $19.95.

'Hot Fuzz'

The British madmen who brought us the zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead" have a go at buddy-cop action flicks with this tale that's part parody, part loving homage to police thrillers. Director Edgar Wright reteams with his "Shaun" co-writer and star Simon Pegg, who plays a hotshot London cop exiled to a small town, where he partners with an oafish local cop ("Shaun" co-star Nick Frost) and defies his colleagues by delving into a bizarre series of "accidental" deaths. DVD, $29.98; HD DVD combo disc, $39.98.

'Firehouse Dog'

This family film centers on a pampered Hollywood canine forced to live the life of an ordinary mutt after he's presumed dead in a mishap during an aerial stunt. The pooch actually ends up lost on unfamiliar turf, where he's adopted by a boy (Josh Hutcherson) and becomes a bonding force between the kid and his single dad (Bruce Greenwood), a firehouse captain. DVD, $29.98.

'Pathfinder'

Hollywood serves up yet another Viking-boy-raised-by-American-Indians tale. Set centuries before Columbus came to America, the action adventure stars Karl Urban as a Norse kid orphaned after his clan's ship runs aground on the shores of North America, where Indians raise him as one of their own and he eventually leads the natives' in battle against the Vikings when they return. The movie is available in the R-rated theatrical version or an unrated cut. DVD, $29.98.

TV on DVD:

• "Space: 1999 - 30th Anniversary Edition," DVD set, $99.95.

• "Babylon 5: Lost Tales," DVD, $24.98.

• "The Archie Show: The Complete Series," DVD set, $26.95.