So I promised I would have all these DVD covers up yesterday... I really didn’t mean to lie. But when New Line released all those new images from their 2007 slate I figured those needed to go up first.

Anyway, here are a bunch of new Sony DVD covers with their synopsis as well as a listing of what comes on the DVDs. Unlike a lot of the other studios, Sony is really good at providing the extras well in advance. Lots of good stuff below, hope you enjoy them. I have more covers to post from other studios and I'll have them up by tomorrow night.

STRANGER THAN FICTION DVD

Street Date: 2/27/2007

Synopsis:

Author Karen Effiel (Thompson) is writing her latest novel about an unusual character named Harold Crick (Ferrell). What she doesn't know is that her fictionalized character is real. The real Harold Crick is an IRS agent who has lived a monotonous, dull existence until one day he begins to hear Karen's voice narrating his every move.

Harold enlists the assistance of literary professor Jules Hilbert (Hoffman), to help him figure out what’s going on. Hilbert helps Harold change some of the mundane every day rituals in his life. However, trouble ensues and Harold’s life becomes fragile when he learns that Karen plans to kill him off and the events that follow become Stranger Than Fiction.

DVD BONUS FEATURES

  • Actors In Search of a Story
  • Marc Forster discusses why each cast member is such an integral part of the film. We will also hear from each cast member regarding their impressions of the film.
  • Picking The Right Team
  • Marc Forster discusses the importance and contribution of each of his “team” members including Director of Photography, Production Design, Costume Designer, Writer, Producers, Editors and VFX team, etc.
  • On Location in Chicago
  • We will take an in-depth look at why Chicago was chosen as the place to shoot this film. We will examine the locations; the architecture; the incredible local talent pool; and all of the other factors that made Chicago the perfect place to shoot the film.
  • Words on the Page
  • We have a great dual interview with Lindsay Doran (producer) and Zach Helm (writer) that will anchor this piece. Additionally, Marc, Zach and Lindsay discuss what makes this script so unique and why Stranger Than Fiction is an important film to make today.
  • Picture a Number
  • A special effect piece discussing the graphics used in the film.
  • On the Set
  • A montage of funny set moments
  • Deleted Scenes

Marie Antoinette DVD

Street Date: 2/13/2007

Sofia Coppola, one of today’s most visionary directors, brings to life onscreen the iconic French Queen. Beginning with Marie Antoinette’s betrothal at the tender age of 14 to an equally young Louis XVI, Coppola tells the tale of a sheltered and lonely girl ill-prepared to handle the rigid yet decadent life at the opulent Versailles, let alone affairs of state. Coppola captures the spirit of the

Baroque in its entire splendor, mirrored in the story of a young woman with all the luxuries her heart desires. The pomp and pageantry of life inside the palace walls insulates Marie Antoinette from the world outside until a Revolution erupts, bringing with it a new reality.

Marie Antoinette features a colorful cast including Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man franchise, Bring It On), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees), Judy Davis (The Break Up, Deconstructing Harry), Rip Torn (Men In Black, Dodgeball), Asia Argento (Last Days, Land of the Dead), Danny Huston (The Constant Gardner, The Aviator), Rose Byrne (Casanova, Wicker Park), Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live,” Talladega Nights), Shirley Henderson (Trainspotting, Bridget Jones Diary), Marianne Faithful (“Absolutely Fabulous”) and Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People, Around the World in 80 Days).

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Making-of Featurette
  • “Cribs Featurette“ – Jason Schwartzman gives the viewer a tour of Versailles in the vein of the MTV show

The Grudge 2 DVD

Street Date: 2/6/2007

SYNOPSIS:

Acclaimed producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Taka Ichise have re-teamed with director Takashi Shimizu and screenwriter Stephen Susco to present this heart-stopping sequel to the smash-hit thriller, The Grudge. When Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn, TV's "Joan of Arcadia") learns her sister Karen (Sarah Michelle Geller) has been hospitalized, she immediately flies to Tokyo. Once there, she learns her sister's horrifying story and discovers that the fatal supernatural curse has been unleashed. Now, as the grudge spreads across the world, a new host of unsuspecting victims are about to become infected by the force that can't be stopped -- and won't be killed.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan DVD

Street Date: 2/6/2007

SYNOPSIS:

When a boxer (Robert Montgomery) is accidentally called to Heaven 50 years before his time, it's upto celestial executive extraordinaire Mr. Jordan (Claude Rains) to straighten out the matter. When Columbia Pictures' financial advisors read the screenplay for the fantasy comedy HERE COMES MR. JORDAN, they had their doubts as to its box-office potential. Screenwriter Sidney Buchman went directly to studio president Harry Cohn in an effort to convince him to make the film. Cohn liked the script's uniqueness and, saying that all his bankers wanted was "what sold last year," told Buchman he'd make the picture. To play the saxophone-playing boxer Joe Pendelton, Cohn decided to borrow Robert Montgomery from MGM. Although Mongomery had some initial doubts about his part, he delivered what was to become an Oscar -nominated performance. The film, which received a total of seven 1941 nominations, including Best Picture, won two (Best Motion Picture Story, Best Screenplay). HERE COMES MR. JORDAN was so successful, it inspired a semi-sequel (1947's Down To Earth, which starred Rita Hayworth) and was eventually remade in 1978 as Heaven Can Wait.

Gandhi: 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD

Street Date – Feb 13th

In order to commemorate one the greatest film epics of recent memory, Sony Picture Home Entertainment debuts the Gandhi: 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on DVD February 13. The critically-acclaimed film – an international box office hit, nominated for 11 Academy Awards®, winning eight, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Sir Ben Kingsley), and Best Director (Richard Attenborough) – will be available for the first time in a two-disc collector’s set with extensive new bonus materials.

The extras include more than 90 minutes of new material, including interviews with director Lord Richard Attenborough; actors Geraldine James, Saeed Jaffrey, and Edward Fox; Diana Hawkins (Director of Publicity), Terry Clegg (Executive in charge of production), Billy Williams (Cinematographer) and Stuart Craig (Production Designer). The DVD includes a Director’s commentary with Attenborough, who also filmed a personal introduction to the film. The featurettes include In Search of Gandhi, Reflections on Ben, Madeleine Slade: An Englishwoman Abroad, The Funeral, Shooting an Epic In India, Looking Back, Designing Gandhi (3 mini featurettes) and From the Director’s Chair (2 mini featurettes). The DVD will be available for $24.96 SRP.

Gandhi is a riveting story about activism, politics, religious tolerance and freedom, depicting the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian political leader who managed to free his country from the British rule using peaceful means and thus giving hope and inspiration for generations to come. In addition to four time Academy Award nominee Kingsley (Schindler’s List, Sexy Beast), the brilliant cast includes Edward Fox (A Passage to India), Roshan Seth (A Passage to India), Academy Award nominee Candice Bergen (Best Supporting Actress, Starting Over, 1980; TV’s “Murphy Brown,” “Boston Legal”), Academy Award winner Sir John Gielgud (Best Supporting Actor, Arthur, 1981), Academy Award nominee Trevor Howard (Best Actor, Sons and Lovers, 1960) and Martin Sheen (The Departed, TV’s “The West Wing”).

DVD Special Features Include:

  • In Search of Gandhi Featurette
  • Lord Attenborough discusses the various hurdles he faced in getting the film made, from the genesis of the project in the '60s through to the start of production.
  • Reflections on Ben Featurette
  • Cast and crew reflect on Ben Kinsley as he prepared for the role and memories of him during production.
  • Madeleine Slade: An Englishwoman Abroad Featurette
  • Lord Richard Attenborough and Geraldine James discuss Madeleine Slade (Meerabahen), who became one of Gandhi's most committed followers
  • The Funeral Featurette
  • Cast and crew discuss the recreation and filming of Gandhi's Funeral. This scene holds the record for containing more extras than any other in film history (in excess of 250,000 people!).
  • Shooting an Epic in India Featurette
  • Cast and crew discuss working in India and the challenges they faced as the production progressed.
  • Looking Back Featurette
  • Cast and crew look back at the film. This featurette includes material about the success of the film, the impact it had on release and the Academy Award ceremony.
  • Designing Gandhi - 3 mini featurettes
  • Stuart Craig talks about three different elements of Set & Design
  • From the Director's Chair - 2 mini featurettes
  • Lord Attenborough shares his views on two areas of the production.
  • Ben Kingsley Talks About Gandhi - Featurette
  • Four Vintage Newsreel Shorts
  • The Making of Gandhi – A photo montage of behind-the-scenes stills
  • Digitally Remastered Audio and Video
  • Online Content Syndication
  • Audio: English, Portuguese, Spanish
  • Subtitles: English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish

Running with Scissors DVD

Street date – February 6th

Synopsis:

Running with Scissors is based on the personal memoir by Augusten Burroughs. Growing up in the 1970’s young Augusten (Joseph Cross) was living a middle-class existence with an alcoholic father (Baldwin) and a bipolar mother (Bening), an unpublished poet with delusions of becoming famous. When his parents divorced, Augusten’s mother sends him to live with her wildly unorthodox psychiatrist and his eccentric extended family. The story portrays an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull, an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment.

DVD & BLU-RAY DISC BONUS FEATURES:

  • Inside Outsiders: The cast discusses how they created their extreme characters.
  • A Story by Augusten Burroughs: Augusten relates to how he wrote the book, why he selected Ryan Murphy to adapt it, and how he worked with the cast to help them step into this very specific world.
  • Creating the Cuckoo’s Nest: The Production designer and director Ryan Murphy discuss how they created the crazy Finch home. Take a guided tour of this domestic freak show.

WALKING TALL: THE PAYBACK DVD

Street Date: 2/20/2007

Synopsis:

This action-packed sequel to the hit film, Walking Tall, tells the story of a hometown hero that takes justice into his own hands. Nick Prescott (Sorbo), the son of a small town sheriff, returns home from a long leave to discover the quiet place in which he grew up is now a volatile community rife with crime, drugs and violence. A group of ruthless criminals is using strong-arm tactics and leveraging corrupt local policemen to buy out real estate from all of the locals. When his father is killed in pursuit of the fugitives, Nick enlists the help of a federal agent and some old friends to seek justice and avenge his father’s death. Nick becomes the new Sheriff and will do everything in his power to defeat the over-zealous gang and their ruthless leader to take back his town.

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American Hardcore DVD

Street Date: 2/20/2007

Synopsis

In the Reagan era of the early 1980s, misfits around the country struggled to find an outlet for their isolation, anger and disillusionment. The rise of the hardcore punk-rock movement began with pioneers like Black Flag, Bad Brains and Minor Threat—the success of whom enabled Nirvana, Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to reach millions. American Hardcore tells the story via those who lived it. Participants include members of Circle Jerks, Misfits, Bad Religion, Black Flag, Bad Brains, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adolescents, Guns N' Roses, Descendents, Corrosion of Conformity, Dead Kennedys, Suicidal Tendencies, Youth Brigade and many more. American Hardcore is a loud, explosive and real documentary.

 

THE QUIET DVD

Street Date: 2/13/2007

SYNOPSIS:

This erotic and suspenseful tale of sex, lies and betrayal stars Elisha Cuthbert (The Girl Next Door) as Nina Deer, a pretty cheerleader whose life is turned upside-down by the arrival of her parents’ godchild Dot (Camilla Belle, When a Stranger Calls), a deaf and mute girl recently orphaned by her father’s death. Although Nina looks upon Dot’s deafness with disdain, her family and friends develop a strange attraction to her, and Dot soon becomes a sounding board for everyone’s heaviest burdens. But when Nina becomes convinced that Dot is hiding a few secrets of her own, she decides to confess a family secret so disturbing, it cannot be ignored. Also starring Martin Donovan (TV’s “Weeds”) and Edie Falco (TV’s “The Sopranos”).

Don't Knock the Rock/Rock Around the Clock (Double Feature, 2 discs) – DVD

Street Date: 1/23/2007

Decoys: The Second Seduction DVD

Street Date: 3/6/2007

Synopsis:

Those sex-crazed alien hotties are back and plaguing another college campus! Kim Poirier and Corey Sevier return in the sequel to Decoys, the chilling thriller, in which aliens disguised as gorgeous coeds are seducing their classmates in an effort to save their species from extinction. Unfortunately, these intergalactic babes are having a hard time reproducing—their mating process causes their body temperatures to drop below freezing, giving their human mates a severe case of the shivers. One by one, the student body is dwindling…and it’s up to Luke (Sevier) to get the message out, before it’s too late!

 

A Man For All Seasons DVD

Street Date: 2/20/2007

 

And while there is no artwork for the titles below, they have been announced.

Here are the press releases.

 

NewsRadio: The Complete Fifth Season DVD

Street Date March 20th

Dave Foley, Jon Lovitz, Andy Dick, Maura Tierney and the crew from radio station WNYX are back for their last season of madcap office politics and crazy co-worker hijinks when NewsRadio: The Complete Fifth Season debuts on DVD March 20 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The three-disc set consists of all 22 episodes and bonus features including commentaries on select episodes with filmmakers, bloopers, and a new featurette. The series will be priced at $39.95 SRP.

The brilliant ensemble cast of comedians features Dave Foley (TV’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown,” “Kids in the Hall”), Jon Lovitz (TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” A League of Their Own), Joe Rogan (TV’s “Fear Factor”), Andy Dick (TV’s “Less Than Perfect”), Maura Tierney (TV’s “ER”), and Vicki Lewis (Finding Nemo). Guest appearances during the show’s sixth season include Adam West (TV’s “Batman”), Tiffani Thiessen (TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210”), and Patrick Warburton (Puddy from TV’s “Seinfeld”).

 

Maude: The Complete First Season DVD

Street Date March 20th

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 35th anniversary of Maude, the iconic and controversial TV series, with the March 20 DVD debut of Maude: The Complete First Season. Created by producing genius Norman Lear and starring the legendary Bea Arthur (who received five Emmy® nominations for her performance, winning once), the three disc collection features all 22 episodes from the critically acclaimed comedy series’ top-rated first season. Also starring Golden Globe®-nominee Adrienne Barbeau (TV’s “Carnivale”), Bill Macy (Analyze This), Conrad Bain (TV’s “Diff’rent Strokes”), Rue McClanahan (TV’s “The Golden Girls”), and Esther Rolle (TV’s “Good Times”), the DVD will be available for $29.95 SRP.

Bea Arthur (TV’s “The Golden Girls”) in the character of Maude was originally introduced as Edith’s (Jean Stapleton) cousin in two episodes of All in the Family, generating such positive viewer feedback that the network spun her off into her own series. Excluding the common denominator of outspokenness, Maude was the complete opposite of prejudiced, narrow-minded Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). She was an upper middle class liberal feminist on her fourth husband and willing to speak her mind on any issue. Maude usually got the last word in her many arguments, in the form of her trademark catchphrase, “God'll get you for that.”

Lear's penchant for mingling realism and provocative social issues with humor resulted in the series broaching several highly controversial topics, including women's liberation, pornography, political campaigning, race relations, and marijuana laws. By far, the biggest controversy was raised by the two-part episode “Maude's Dilemma,” which featured the 47-year-old Maude discovering she’s pregnant, and, after much debate, deciding to have an abortion (the first show to ever have the lead character make that decision). While some viewers picketed or protested by phone calls and letters, only two affiliates refused to carry the episodes. By the time the viewer mail was tallied, the network found audience reaction was six to one in favor of the subject matter and the way the topic was resolved.

In addition to Maude, the other characters included her fourth husband, appliance salesman Walter (Bill Macy), her divorced daughter from her first marriage, Carol (Adrienne Barbeau), Carol’s son Phillip (Brian Morrison), Walter’s best friend and next-door neighbor Arthur (Conrad Bain), and Maude’s best friend Vivian (Rue McClanahan). Esther Rolle appeared as Florida, Maude’s maid, a character that obtained such popularity with viewers that, like Maude itself, was spun off into its own series, the long-running “Good Times.”

Maude premiered as a series on September 12, 1972, and over the course of its six-season, 141-episode run, was nominated for a total of 12 Emmy Awards, as well as eight Golden Globe nominations. By the end of the series’ first season, the show was number 4 in the overall ratings and remained a fixture in the top 10 for most of its subsequent run. As its famous theme song pointed out, “And then there was … Maude.”