Perry To Write, Direct, Star In TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF And TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — LIONSGATE(R) (NYSE: LGF) , a leading next generation studio, announced today that it has acquired the rights to the next two films from writer/director/actor/producer Tyler Perry, TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF and TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO. The announcement comes as the latest title in Lionsgate’s Tyler Perry franchise, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA GOES TO JAIL, continues its reign as the country’s #1 film for the second week in a row. The announcement was made today by Joe Drake, Lionsgate President, Motion Picture Group, and Co-Chief Operating Officer.

Academy Award(R) nominee Taraji P. Henson (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) stars in TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, which is based on Perry’s play of the same name. Perry’s signature character, the indomitable Madea, will be featured in the film. Principal photography is scheduled to begin on March 16 at the new Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF is expected to be released nationwide on September 11, 2009.

TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO is a sequel to the 2007 critical and box office hit TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED? Principal photography will begin later this year, and the film is expected to be released nationwide on Easter weekend, April 2, 2010. Last year, TYLER PERRY’S MEET THE BROWNS opened on Easter weekend (March 21, 2008), with a three-day box office total of $20 million.

Said Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate President of Motion Picture Production, “We could not be any prouder of our partnership with Tyler Perry, an amazing talent, dedicated colleague and beloved family member.”

Said Perry, “A filmmaker could not ask for a better home than Lionsgate. The studio has provided me with incredible support over the years, allowing me the creative freedom to make the films my audience expects and comes out to support.”

Tyler Perry has released seven films through Lionsgate since DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN in February 2005, and they have collectively grossed nearly $350 million at the North American box office. Lionsgate has also sold nearly 25 million DVD’s of Perry’s films and video catalog titles. Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury television syndication company has delivered 126 episodes of his highly successful television series, “House of Payne,” which is airing in a dual window on TBS and in Fox station group-led syndication, and 80 episodes of his “House of Payne” spin-off, “Meet The Browns,” have already been ordered to air on TBS this summer and in Fox station group-led syndication in Fall 2010.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading next generation studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging its content leadership and marketing expertise through a series of partnerships that include the operation of the FEARNet branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the expected fall 2009 launch of EPIX, the new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom and MGM, investment in the leading young men’s digital distribution platform Break.com, ownership of the premier independent television syndication company Debmar-Mercury and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and distribution company Roadside Attractions. Lionsgate also has forged partnerships with leading content creators, owners and distributors in key territories around the world, including Televisa in the U.S. and Latin America, StudioCanal in the UK, Hoyts and Sony in Australia and Eros International in India. Most recently, Lionsgate acquired the TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com, in a transaction that closed as of February 28, 2009.

The Company has generated one of the industry’s leading North American theatrical box office market shares for calendar 2009 to date, propelled by successes such as Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail, which achieved the largest opening weekend in Lionsgate history, and My Bloody Valentine 3D. Lionsgate has forged strong positions in television and home entertainment with the production of such critically-acclaimed television series as “Weeds” and “Mad Men,” the distribution of “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Family Feud,” “South Park,” and “The Dead Zone,” and nearly 7% market share and the industry’s leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with entrepreneurial innovation and original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

Source: Lionsgate

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IMAX Purchases Account for One Third of All ‘Watchmen’ Ticket Sales at MovieTickets.com

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CULVER CITY, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ — Principal photography commences this week on the Columbia Pictures production Salt, an espionage action thriller starring Angelina Jolie (Wanted, Changeling, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bone Collector). Phillip Noyce (The Bone Collector, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) directs. The original screenplay is written by Kurt Wimmer (The Recruit, The Thomas Crown Affair), with a current re-write by Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, Man On Fire, The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3). Salt is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers, 1408, G.I. Joe) and Sunil Perkash (Enchanted). Executive producers are Ric Kidney and Mark Vahradian.

In Columbia Pictures’ Salt, Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative, she must elude capture and protect her husband or the world’s most powerful forces will erase any trace of her existence.

Liev Schreiber stars as Winter, Salt’s boss and friend on the Russian desk at the CIA, and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Peabody, a CIA counter-intelligence officer.

Di Bonaventura said, “It’s always a thrill to start production. It’s especially gratifying to work on redefining this genre with such a talented actress. Angelina is a rare combination of intelligence, emotional range, and physical ability.”

Noyce added, “It’s great to be working with Angelina once again. She’s the only one who could bring this character to life. Salt will be tense and exciting, everything that thriller audiences expect, but also with a strong, multi-dimensional character at the center.”

Robert Elswit is the director of photography. Production Designer is Scott Chambliss. John Gilroy is the editor. Sarah Edwards is the costume designer. Salt will film on location in Washington, DC, and in New York.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Watchmen (Sizzling Movie of the Week)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller.

Duration: 2 hr 43 min

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.

Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson.

Synopsis: A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, “Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock–which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union–moves closer to midnight.

When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion–a disbanded group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers–Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future.

Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the Watchmen?

Trailer:

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LAST CHANCE HARVEY

Available on DVD and Blu-ray(TM) on Tuesday, May 5

“Richly funny and touching, it’s too good to resist!” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“Utterly charming. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson make a winning combo.” - Lou Lumenick, New York Post

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ — Two-time Academy Award(R) winners Emma Thompson (Oscar(R) winner for Sense and Sensibility and Howards End) and Dustin Hoffman (Oscar(R) winner for Rain Man and Kramer vs. Kramer) reunite in the critically acclaimed drama Last Chance Harvey available on DVD and Blu-ray(TM) on May 5, 2009 (pre-book: April 2, 2009). Both Hoffman and Thompson received 2009 Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress for their respective roles. A hopeful romance that celebrates new beginnings at any age, Last Chance Harvey is directed and written by Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow). SRP is $29.98 for the 2-disc DVD set and $39.98 for the Blu-ray(TM) edition.

“Hoffman and Thompson are wonderful,” said Karen Durbin of ELLE magazine. “Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman make late blooming romance so fresh,” added Caryn James of Marie Claire. “Each exudes the palpable screen presence that has won them Oscars and made them famous,” praised Mike Goodridge, Screen Daily.

Last Chance Harvey also features a superb supporting cast that includes Eileen Atkins (Cold Mountain, Gosford Park), Liane Balaban (Definitely Maybe, Happy Here and Now), James Brolin (Traffic, Catch Me If You Can), Kathy Baker (The Jane Austen Book Club, Edward Scissorhands), and Richard Schiff (”The West Wing”).

The Last Chance Harvey DVD bonus features include audio commentary with writer/director Joel Hopkins and Hoffman and Thompson, along with “An Unconventional Love Story - The Making of Last Chance Harvey.” The Last Chance Harvey Blu-ray(TM) edition includes the above-mentioned special features, as well as BD-Live capability.

New Yorker Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is on the verge of losing his dead-end job as a jingle writer. Warned by his boss (Richard Schiff) that he has just one more chance to deliver, Harvey goes to London for a weekend to attend his daughter’s wedding but promises to be back on Monday morning to make an important meeting — or else. Harvey arrives in London only to learn his daughter (Liane Balaban) has chosen to have her stepfather (James Brolin) walk her down the aisle instead of him. Doing his best to hide his devastation, he leaves the wedding before the reception in hopes of getting to the airport on time, but misses his plane anyway. When he calls his boss, he is fired on the spot.

Drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Harvey strikes up a conversation with Kate (Emma Thompson), a slightly prickly, 40-something employee of the Office of National Statistics. Kate, whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother (Eileen Atkins), is touched by Harvey, who finds himself energized by her intelligence and compassion. The growing connection between the pair inspires both as they unexpectedly transform one another’s lives.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray(TM) formats. It is the exclusive home media distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

About Overture Films

Overture Films (www.overturefilms.net) develops, produces, acquires, and distributes feature length, theatrical motion pictures worldwide. The studio is a wholly owned unit of Starz Media, a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group (NASDAQ:LCAPA) (NASDAQ: LCAPB) , a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation. Its affiliated companies, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Starz Entertainment, make the films available domestically to viewers via home video, premium television, Internet and other outlets.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
LAST CHANCE HARVEY 2-DISC DVD
Street Date: May 5, 2009
Pre-book: April 2, 2009
Cat. #: DV80016
UPC: 0 1313 80016-9 6
Run Time: Approx. 93 minutes
Rating: PG-13
SRP: $29.98
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen - Disc 1
Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Bonus Features: Audio commentary with Writer/Director Joel Hopkins and
Academy Award(R) winners Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson
An Unconventional Love Story - The Making of Last Chance
Harvey
Theatrical Trailer

LAST CHANCE HARVEY BLU-RAY(TM)
Street Date: May 5, 2009
Pre-book: April 2, 2009
Cat. #: N3070
UPC: 0 1313 83070-8 8
Run Time: Approx. 93 minutes
Rating: PG-13
SRP: $39.98
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Bonus Features: Audio commentary with Writer/Director Joel Hopkins and
Academy
Award(R) winners Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson
An Unconventional Love Story - The Making of Last Chance
Harvey
Theatrical Trailer
BD-Live features

Source: Anchor Bay Entertainment

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Gran Torino has scored $138 million at the U.S. box office and is still growing. The film is directed by Eastwood, who stars as an iron-willed Korean War veteran who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices.

The film’s U.S. gross tops the list of pictures directed by and/or starring Eastwood, including In the Line of Fire ($102m), the Oscar-winning Unforgiven ($101m) and Million Dollar Baby ($100m), Space Cowboys ($90m), Every Which Way But Loose ($85m), Mystic River ($90m) and The Bridges of Madison County ($71.5m).

In the U.S., Gran Torino opened for a three-week limited run, during which it landed on a number of year-end ten best lists, with Eastwood’s performance and the film’s screenplay winning awards from the National Board of review, among other accolades. The film expanded to general release on January 9 and raced to the top of the weekend box office, earning a record-breaking $29.5m and becoming the biggest-ever opening for an Eastwood film as well as the biggest-ever 3-day January opening.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Double Nickel Entertainment, a Malpaso Production, Gran Torino. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by Nick Schenk, story by Dave Johannson & Nick Schenk. Eastwood, Robert Lorenz and Bill Gerber are the producers, with Jenette Kahn, Adam Richman, Tim Moore and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. The film stars Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley, John Carroll Lynch, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, Brian Howe and William Hill.

The creative behind-the-scenes team is led by Eastwood’s longtime collaborators: director of photography Tom Stern, production designer James J. Murakami, editors Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach, and costume designer Deborah Hopper. The music is by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens, orchestrated and conducted by Lennie Niehaus. The title song for “Gran Torino” is performed by British jazz singer/pianist Jamie Cullum and Don Runner. It was co-written by Eastwood; Cullum; the director’s son, Kyle Eastwood; and Kyle’s writing partner, Michael Stevens.

Gran Torino is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. http://www.grantorinomovie.co.uk

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

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BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Walmart today announced detailed plans to bring teens, women and “Twilighters” of all ages more access to their beloved Twilight story as it gears up for the March 21 DVD release from Summit Entertainment. Bringing “Twilight shops” to all Walmart stores next month, the retailer announced today it will also host midnight events and giveaways in its 24-hour stores upon the DVD’s release, including a program for fans to interview Twilight cast member Taylor Lautner on BlogTalkRadio.

Today, its special micro site www.walmart.com/twilight shares more details on these events, viewing party ideas, new behind-the-scenes movie footage, and a way to engage friends with a create-your-own electronic invitation (”eBite”) on the site.

“Fans of all ages have fallen in love with the Twilight series and we will bring to as many as possible special access to the stars, great priced products and additional, memorable activities around this DVD movie release, both in our stores and online,” says Greg Hall, vice president, Merchandising at Walmart.

Behind the Scenes with Taylor Lautner (aka Jacob Black) on BlogTalkRadio

In partnership with BlogTalkRadio, Walmart will host actor Taylor Lautner, who plays “Jacob Black” in Twilight, on the “Stardish Radio” program March 9, 2009 at 9 pm (EST). Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Taylor will take questions from fans “logged in” to BlogTalkRadio with hosts Jo Ann Kubasek (Stardish Radio) and Amy Clark (MomAdvice).

“BlogTalkRadio is excited to join forces with Walmart to bring Twilight fans direct access to one of the year’s hottest new actors,” said Alan Levy, CEO of BlogTalkRadio. “By logging onto our live broadcast, they’ll be able to interact with other members of the hit film’s rapidly-expanding global community to talk about the movie and hear directly from Taylor about his experience.”

Midnight Twilight Events and In-Store Giveaways

Walmart plans to give fans thirsting for more Twilight a good reason to be at its 24-hour stores late Friday evening Mar. 20 as they await the midnight DVD movie release. Among store activities will be ideas and products for fans looking to host their own Twilight viewing party. And, especially for Twilight super fans, Walmart has reserved exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.

Send an “eBite,” see exclusive movie footage, download your Twilight widget

If you ever wondered what a Twilight vampire bite might look like on you, and want a way to gather your Twilight friends together, Walmart.com/twilight has the perfect “eBite” (electronic invitation) for groups and events. Fans can use the eBite to invite fellow fans to activities like the Taylor Lautner interview, midnight DVD movie release or their at-home Twilight viewing party.

In addition, customers can visit the Twilight pages on Walmart.com to see new behind-the-scenes movie footage and to download a widget that tests their knowledge daily with Twilight story trivia.

Walmart this spring aims to be the source for fans everywhere to find more Twilight with in-store and online activities and the best prices for accessories, apparel, books, music and the upcoming DVD movie. All Walmart stores will have a special Twilight section days before the DVD movie release, pulling together a wide assortment of Twilight items. Pre-orders for the single disc DVD movie (a Walmart exclusive for only $17) and the special edition DVD are available today at Walmart.com.

About Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.

Source: Walmart Stores, Inc.

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Australia

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil, Brandon Walters.

Synopsis: In Australia, on the verge of World War II, Lady Sarah Ashley, an English aristocrat, travels to the Northern Territory. When she meets a rough-looking local, she reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save her inherited land from being overtaken. Together with a herd of cattle, they embark upon a transforming journey across some of the world’s most beautiful yet unrelenting landscape, only to find themselves in the middle of the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese forces that attacked Pearl Harbor earlier.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Genre: Family, Adventure, Comedy.

Cast: Drew Barrymore, George Lopez, Andy Garcia, Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona.

Synopsis: A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends — including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado and an amorous pup named Papi — to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.

In The Electric Mist

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller.

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, David E. Jensen, Alana Locke, John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard.

Synopsis: Detective Dave Robicheaux is trying to link the murder of a local hooker to New Orleans mobster Julie Balboni. But during his investigation Robicheaux is led into a series of surreal encounters with a troop of Confederate soldiers.

I’ve Loved You So Long (Sizzling DVD Pick of the Week)

Genre: Foreign, Drama

Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Laurent Grevill, Serge Hazanavicius, Frederic Pierrot.

Synopsis: For 15 years, Juliette has had no ties with her family who had rejected her. Although life once violently separated them, Lea, her younger sister, takes her into her home which she shares with her husband Luc, his father, and their two daughters.

Taken

Genre: Foreign, Action, Drama, Thriller.

Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Anjul Nigam, Goran Kostic.

Synopsis: A former government operative comes out of retirement and uses his extensive training to rescue his daughter from a slave trade operation.

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Next weekend, Warner Bros. will look to take over the box office with Watchmen, but how much more money than its competitors can it generate?

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Rating: Burnt Popcorn

Set in the 80’s, Rock Star tells the tale of Chris “Izzy” Cole, a copy machine repairer by day and a rock star wannabe by night. Chris idolizes Bobby Beers, the leader of the legendary heavy metal band Steel Dragon. Although he wishes to become a member, Chris settles to being the lead vocalist of Blood Polution, a tribute band to Steel Dragon that only plays their songs the way the real band plays them. When he’s booted out of the rock troop, Chris coincidentally receives a call from his favorite group to replace Bobby Beers as Steel Dragon’s new lead singer. Overnight, his life changes from rock star wannabe to rock god. What will happen to Chris “Izzy” Cole when he receives everything he’s dreamed of, but can’t find no satisfaction?

Rock Star brings together Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston and a whole slew of real-life heavy metal musicians however the film doesn’t pull off the 80’s look and feel that is expected. Mark Wahlberg looks too clean for his role as Chris “Izzy” Cole. It seems like he doesn’t get into this movie at all. He might be the leader of his own band, but when it comes to being a rock star wannabe on the big screen, things just don’t add up. Some of the band members of Steel Dragon provide decent performances.

The continuity is probably the biggest blow to the film’s success. The wardrobe and sets try to match the era the film is situated in, however several times throughout the movie you can see various items being used that were not made or introduced until the 90’s or the new century. I would have liked to have seen something done with the cinematography to make it feel real.

Overall, Rock Star fails to provide anything new, releasing only a year after Almost Famous, a movie about a young journalist who has the opportunity of a lifetime to follow a rock band on their first tour. There is nothing really stopping Chris’ dreams from coming true in this movie. There is a scene in Rock Star, where Chris falls in slow motion onto the stage, that makes us think that his aspirations are about to be shattered, but to our surprise he quickly stands back onto his feet and continues singing.

Unless you’re a die hard fan of Mark Wahlberg, you’re probably not going to pick up this DVD. When you can find a DVD on a HMV shelf for $4, you know the quality is just not there!

Theatrical Release Date: September 7, 2001

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