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February 3, 2009
Significant Titles Include:

- Zack and Miri Make a Porno: Kevin Smith makes his first feature in the Judd Apatow era.  Smith fans should be satisfied with what the film has to offer, but in this humble critic's opinion, Apatow and the gang have proven they're able to take Smith's formula - raunchy humor, pop-culture references, razor sharp dialogue - and do it better.  Word on the extended features for the 2-Disc DVD are a bit thin, but it is said to include deleted scenes, a gag reel, a 1+ hour documentary on the making of the film called "Popcorn Porn," and the full collection of the "Money Shots" web series (in 4:3 format).  Blu-ray fans can look forward to all that plus a 23-minute segment from the Zack and Miri panel at Comic Con as well as BD-Live features and watching all the extras, including outtakes, in full 1080p. 
Format: DVD and Blu-ray

- Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist kind of came and went without much hullabaloo on either the good or bad side.  The synopsis is something like this: "After a chance encounter, Nick and Norah embark on a journey through New York’s indie rock scene on a quest to find the secret show of a legendary band, and wind up finding each other."  Good for people who like Michael Cera and indie rock.  The DVD release features a digital copy, deleted scenes, outtakes, commentary by the three leads as well as director Peter Sollett, authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan and screenwriter Lorene Scafaria, storyboard animations, a video diary, a puppet show, and the "Middle Management" music video by Bishop Allen.  Features exclusive to the Blu-ray release include Cinechat, with which you can send onscreen messages to friends while watching it together, an interactive playlist of Nick and Norah's songs, and Telestrator Commentary with Peter Sollett, Michael Cera, Kat Dennings and Ari Graynor.
Format: DVD and Blu-ray

- Being There (Deluxe Edition): Hal Ashby was one the great yet overlooked filmmakers of the movie brat generation, who first made his mark on the industry as an editor.  Being There stars Peter Sellers as Chance, a gardener equipped only with knowledge he learned through television, who is forced to face the world after the old man with whom he lives passes away.  Arguably the best Ashby film.  Both the Deluxe Edition DVD and Blu-ray discs include a nicely cleaned up picture, but only one featurette - "Memories of Being There" - which is only about 15 minutes long and includes the granddaugther of Melvyn Douglas, who won an Oscar for the film.  Though understandable to exclude the male leads (they're all dead), Shirley MacLaine is still alive yet surprisingly absent.  Also, there are about two minutes of deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and an outtakes reel.
Format: DVD and Blu-ray

- Friday the 13th Uncut (Deluxe Edition): Even if you've never seen Friday the 13th, chances are you're aware of its legacy.  Just in time for the release of the remake comes the Deluxe Edition of the film chock full of extras for gore hounds and fans of the path-paving, low-budget horror film.  The DVD release contains commentary by the cast and crew, including director Sean S. Cunningham, extended gory cuts of the original kills, and special featurettes like the Reunion Q&A from the Scare Fest Horror and Paranormal Convention, "Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th," in which cast and crew recollect their favorite stories from the film's production, and "The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham," in which Cunningham invites you into his house to get to know him better.  All these features are included on the Blu-ray disc, as well as a Friday the 13th-esque short film called "Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part 1," a 21-minute documentary on the making of the film called "Friday the 13th Chronicles," and a featurette on the makeup and special effects by Tom Savini called "Secrets Galore Behind the Gore."  

For more information on upcoming DVD releases, visit Joblo's DVD Clinic.

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