THE LIST: New DVDs, CDs and books for week of Oct. 28
DVDS
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” (PG): The first live-action feature shot in digital 3-D is an update of Jules Verne’s durable 1864 fantasy, about an absent-minded professor (Brendan Fraser), his surly teenage nephew (Josh Hutcherson) and an Icelandic guide (Anita Briem) on a fantastical, and possibly fatal, journey to the title realm; the video version comes complete with 3-D glasses.
Another family-friendly feature, “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” (G) brings the popular book series to the screen, with “Little Miss Sunshine’s” Abigail Breslin as a plucky Depression-era lass determined to get an article published in the local newspaper — and help the down-on-their-luck hobos haunting her neighborhood.
By contrast, Las Vegas’ own Jenna Jameson joins Robert “Freddy Kruger” Englund for the comedy horror romp “Zombie Strippers” (unrated), while Larry Bishop (Joey’s kid) tries to revive the ’60s biker flick as writer, director and star of “Hell Ride” (R). Michael Madsen, Dennis Hopper, Vinnie Jones and David Carradine go along for the ride.
Turning to titles that never hit local theaters, “Death Defying Acts” (PG) casts Catherine Zeta-Jones as a psychic who enchants touring magician Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce).
Leading the straight-to-video parade: “Tinker Bell” (G), a new computer-animated adventure featuring Peter Pan’s favorite pixie.
Tuning in to TV transfers, “The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season” (not rated) conjures wholesome ’50s family-sitcom memories, while cable’s “The L-Word: The Complete Fifth Season” (also unrated) offers definite contrast with its tales of ever-lovin’ lesbians.
Other small-screen DVD arrivals (all unrated): “Sanford and Son: The Complete Series,” “The 4400: The Complete Series,” “Newsradio: The Complete Series,” “Good Times: The Complete Series,” “War and Remembrance: The Complete Epic Mini-Series,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series Megaset,” “Sister, Sister: The First Season,” and “Girlfriends: The Fifth Season.”
From the vintage vault, “The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection" (not rated) revives those beloved comedies with Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat and the rest of “Our Gang,” while the laughs continue in “Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection” (not rated), featuring 28 comedy romps. And “Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition” (not rated) features hosts Joel Hodgson and Mike Nelson leading the jeers for such schlocky romps as “First Spaceship on Venus” and “Laserblast.”
CDS
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, “Cardinology”: Ryan Adams isn’t a country singer per se, but he makes great country records, and his latest disc is another winsome, world weary effort.
“For everything that’s wrong, there is a worried man, there is a reason why,” Adams sings over touches of moaning pedal steel on album opener “Born Into A Light,” a wistful slow burn baptized in whiskey and tears.
“I’ll always win in the end,” Adams later adds on first single “Fix It,” and he’s right on his way to doing just that.
Also in stores: Bloc Party, “Intimacy”; Cradle of Filth, “Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder”; The Cure, “4:13 Dream”; Cynic, “Traced in Air”; Eagles of Death Metal, “Heart On”; Kaiser Chiefs, “Off With Their Heads”; Toby Keith, “That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy”; John Legend, “Evolver”; Lordi, “Deadache”; P!nk, “Funhouse”; Queen + Paul Rodgers, “The Cosmos Rocks”; Boz Scaggs, “Speak Low”; and Snow Patrol, “One Hundred Million Suns.”
BOOKS
“The Gate House” by Nelson DeMille: In a long-awaited follow-up to “The Gold Coast,” author Nelson DeMille revisits the character John Sutter, who returns to Long Island for the funeral of a family servant. John takes up residence in the gatehouse on the grounds of his ex-wife’s family estate and finds himself living not too far away from Susan herself.
His ex-wife isn’t the only one living nearby. Anthony Bellarosa, the son of Mafia boss Frank Bellarosa, with whom Susan had an affair and ended up killing, emerges and is bent on revenge. Attraction reignites between Susan and John while at the same time she becomes a target of Anthony’s vengeance.
Also hitting shelves: “A Good Woman” by Danielle Steel; “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics” by Ina Garten; “Cobain Unseen” by Charles R. Cross; “Flat Belly Diet” by Liz Vaccariello; “Influence” by Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen; “Irish Country Christmas” by Patrick Taylor; “Songs for the Missing” by Stewart O’Nan; and “With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars” by Jonathan Kellerman.
