New DVDs, CDs and books, Oct. 4, 2011
A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week:
DVDS
"Fast Five" (PG-13): On the run in Rio de Janeiro, the original crew from "The Fast and the Furious" (led by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker) plots a $100 million heist — and winds up caught between a ruthless drug lord and a relentless federal agent (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson).
Also on the sequel front, "Scream 4" (R) returns after an 11-year layoff, with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette — and Ghostface. Elsewhere on the recent-release front, a Welsh teen (Craig Roberts) hopes to save his parents’ marriage — and lose his virginity — in the coming-of-age comedy "Submarine" (R), while "The Heart Specialist" (not rated) focuses on a young doctor (Wood Harris) who models his novel’s main character on a ladies-man intern (Brian J. White). Topping today’s documentary lineup: "Buck" (PG), about real-life "horse whisperer" Buck Brannaman; "African Cats" (G), about lions and cheetahs teaching their cubs the ways of the wild; and "Sarah Palin: The Undefeated" (PG-13), which traces the former Alaska governor’s political rise.
Fresh from its current theatrical reign, "The Lion King" (G) returns in Blu-ray 3-D and Blu-ray Disc configurations, along with the Blu-ray 3-D debut of Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast" (G). And "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" (not rated) preserves the divine madness of Midler’s Caesars Palace show.
Turning to TV transfers (all unrated), Ken Burns’ latest PBS documentary, "Prohibition" leads a lineup that includes William Hurt, Donald Sutherland and Ethan Hawke in "Moby Dick," plus "The Walking Dead: Season One," "Melissa & Joey: Season One, Part Two," "Bored to Death: The Complete Second Season," "The League: The Complete Season Two," "Meet the Browns: Season Two," "The Bionic Woman: Season Three," "In Treatment: Season Three," "According to Jim: The Complete Fifth Season," "Perry Mason: Season Six, Vol. One," "Boy Meets World: The Complete Seventh Season," "Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series," "Lie To Me: The Complete Final Season" and "The Honeymooners : Lost Episodes 1951-1957 — The Complete Restored Series."
CDS
Various Artists, "The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams": Time to add a few pages to one of the great American songbooks, the collected works of country pioneer Hank Williams.
Initiated by Bob Dylan, who’s penned a couple of memorable songs himself, this project sees a diverse range of artists — Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Jack White and Lucinda Williams, among others — completing unfinished Williams songs.
What once was "Lost" has now been found.
Also in stores: Rodney Atkins, "Take a Back Road"; Death in Vegas, "Trans-Love Energies"; Feist, "Metals"; Merle Haggard, "Working in Tennessee"; Indigo Girls, "Beauty Queen Sister"; Jack’s Mannequin, "People and Things"; Paul McCartney, "Paul McCartney’s Ocean’s Kingdom"; Misfits, "The Devil’s Rain"; Mutemath, "Odd Soul"; New Found Glory, "Radiosurgery"; and Wayne Static, "Pighaammer."
BOOKS
"Shock Wave" by John Sandford: In the fifth installment in the Virgil Flowers series, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent must find out who is behind simultaneous bombings targeting a not-so-popular superstore chain.
For younger readers, Rick Riordan follows "The Lost Hero" with "The Son of Neptune," Book Two in the Heroes of Olympus series, which introduces a new camper who appears to be the son of the god of the sea.
Also hitting shelves: "The Coming Jobs War" by Jim Clifton; "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman; "Down These Strange Streets" edited by George R.R. Martin; "It’s So Easy: And Other Lies" by Duff McKagan; "Murder Unleashed" by Rita Mae Brown; "Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich — And Why Most Don’t" by Donald J. Trump; "Neverwinter" by R.A. Salvatore; "The Night Strangers" by Chris Bohjalian; "Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories" by John Flanagan; "Seriously … I’m Kidding" by Ellen DeGeneres; "Silence" by Becca Fitzpatrick; "Skeleton Letters" by Laura Childs; and "The Visible Man" by Chuck Klosterman.
