New DVD and Blu-ray releases round up 3rd / 4th November 2008

Sifting through this weeks crop of contemporary DVD releases, we've come up with some recommendations for you.

UK releases
In the UK, our pick of the DVD releases on 3rd November 2008 :



This Sporting Life. Lindsay Anderson's gritty debut. Network DVD's roster of great movies releases grows with a digitally restored version of This Sporting Life on DVD. We here at alt-flix are huge fans of Lindsay Anderson's work, and Network have kindly let us see an advanced copy of the DVD, and we can confirm that the restored print looks absolutely stunning. This version of the film comes from the HD print of the film which gives the restored film its flawless quality, and also, for the first time on DVD, the film is presented in its original cinematic ratio. Read the full This Sporting Life review here.

Postmen In The Mountains. From 1999, this poignant and stunningly beautiful drama from China, directed by Huo Jianqi, tells the tale of an aging postman who unable to continue his job due to frailty. He hands the job over to his son, who had and resented his father for pushing his family aside in favour of his job, but comes to realise things are never as clear cut as they seem. .

The Battle Of The Somme. Released to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the end of World War 1. This digitally restored version of the landmark documentary film record from 1916 of The Battle Of The Somme, is released on a superb extras laden DVD package. which includes the soundtracks (a commentary, together with a contemporary orchestral score and also a recreation of the songs that were used to accompany the film in the cinemas in its 1916 release. Also includes unused footage, Interviews with those involved in the DVD project and a commemorative booklet. Read the full The Battle Of The Somme review here.

The best of the rest of DVDs released this week in the UK include: Silent Running; Walkabout; The Happening; The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 3 Disc Seriously Ultimate; What?; Mad Detective; Bruce Weber 5 Disc Boxset; Before The Rain; A Prairie Home Companion; and Pollock.

The recommended Blu-ray releases this week in the UK include: Zulu; Kill Bill Vol.1; Kill Bill Vol.2; Mad Detective; The Perfect Storm; Predator; Predator 2; Fantastic Four; Fantastic Four - The Rise Of The Silver Surfer; Chocolate; The Wild Bunch; Babel; Monster's Ball; Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Mad Detective.

The recommended TV releases (all formats) this week in the UK include: David Attenborough's Life On Land - A DVD Encyclopedia; Robin Hood - Series 2; Extras - The Collection; Dead Set; ER: The Complete Thirteenth Season; In Sickness And In Health - The Christmas Specials; Desperate Housewives: Seasons 1-4; Monty Python's Flying Circus - Series 1-4; Beautiful People; Derren Brown - The Specials; Armchair Thriller Vol.1-10 - Complete; The American Future: A History; Futurama - Series 1-4 - Complete and The Howdy Doody Show.

A full list with further details and an exclusive store for November 2008 releases can be found at the alt-flix November 2008 UK releases site .


USA releases
In the USA, the pick of the DVD releases on 4th November 2008 are:



When Did You Last See Your Father?. Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth star in this magnificent drama as father and son who have allowed their relationship to drift, but with the fathers impending death lots of things get brought into sharp focus.


Flashbacks of a Fool.This film should have been massive. Starring Daniel Craig as a faded film star spiraling out of control who returns to England to confront his past. Great cast includes Keeley Hawes, Emilia Fox and Olivia Williams.

Budd Boetticher Box Set. Often disregarded as a most disposable (but arguably most popular) genre, the westerns as directed by Budd Boetticher tell some great stories. Collected here are some of his best including: Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome and, Comanche Station.

The best of the rest of DVDs released this week in the USA include: Milarepa; Fraulein; Little Fugitive; What We Do Is Secret; Star Wars Prequel Trilogy / Star Wars Trilogy; The Gregory Peck Film Collection and Valentin.

The recommended Blu-ray releases this week in the USA include: Caligula; Futurama: Benders Game; A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition); Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection; Planet of the Apes (40th Anniversary Edition); Kung Fu Panda; Monster's Ball; Get Smart and Trans-Siberian.

The recommended TV releases (all formats) this week in the USA include: Primeval: The Complete Series 1 and 2;
JAG (Judge Advocate General) - Seasons 1-7; Get Smart - The Complete Series; Foyle's War: Sets 1-5; Spin City: The Complete Season 1; Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection; Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set and The Howdy Doody Show- 40 Episode Collection.

Other recommended new DVD releases can be found on our site at alt-flix.co.uk November 2008 USA DVD releases.