There are a couple of high brow releases as well as a one so low as to be considered “basement” brow in this week’s dvd/blu-ray release round up. Hey, something for everybody!

Downton Abbey, the hugely popular BBC import currently running in its second season on PBS, has already cropped up on dvd. While anyone interested in watching Downton Abbey already knows about the show and is probably religiously watching, you may not know that you can get the complete season 2 in its original, uncut UK edition, not to mention you can get it when there are still two more episodes left to air! (That should make Patton Oswalt deliriously happy!)

The three disc set includes the 2011 Christmas Special!

Try to avoid the stampede to Target to pick up your copy of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – part 1. For all of you longing for dvd in order to sit in the privacy of your darkened living room to witness the marriage of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, tissues at the ready, your wait is over. Actually, this title will be released on Saturday February 11, but I figured you’d want the extra notice to get your track shoes one.

Special Features:

-Go behind the scenes with a captivating 6-PART MAKING-OF DOCUMENTARY; relive the memories with Edward & Bella's personal WEDDING VIDEO; get a glimpse into JACOB'S DESTINY; watch your favorite scenes over and over in EDWARD FAST FORWARD and JACOB FAST FORWARD; plus an AUDIO COMMENTARY with Director Bill Condon

Whether or not you believe its premise, Anonymous makes for a good costume drama. (The costumes have been nominated for an Academy Award.) It also features a rare appearance of both Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson in the same film. The each play Queen Elizabeth I at different stages of her life.

Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, Anonymous speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds… who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

Anonymous stars Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis and Xavier Samuel.

Special Features:

-Audio Commentary: Director Roland Emmerich and Writer John Orloff deliver a steady and enlightening commentary, speaking on the importance of the film's modern-day open, the necessity of fiction in the portrayal of supposed historical fact, dramatic licenses in the film, the work of the cast and crew, the specifics behind crafting and shooting various scenes, the purpose of the film's dramatic elements, the costuming, technical details of the digital photography, set design, special effects, and much more. This is a good companion track that fans should enjoy.

-Deleted Scenes (1080p, 2:54): "Use Your Imagination Robert," Ben Visits the Earl of Oxford, and Funeral Scenes.

-Extended Scenes (1080p, 3:29): Tennis Match and The Mermaids Tavern.

-More Than Special Effects (1080p, 13:08): A detailed look at the film's digital and practical recreations of 16th century locations.

-Who is the Real William Shakespeare? (1080p, 10:39): Cast and crew discuss the evidence presented in the movie that Shakespeare didn't write Shakespeare.

-Speak the Speech… (1080p, 16:14): A detailed look at casting the film's critical roles.

The Rebound is a romantic comedy from Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) that was filmed back in early 2009, but was a victim of The Film Department’s untimely demise. It has already been released theatrically all over the world, but is going straight to dvd and blu-ray in the US. It stars Catherine Zeta Jones as a recent divorce who becomes involved with her kids’ caregiver, the much younger Justin Bartha.

Official Synopsis:

"Upon discovering her husband's infidelity, Sandy (Zeta-Jones) and her two kids move from the suburbs to pursue a new life in the big city. There she meets Aram (Bartha), a local coffee shop employee whose wife only married him as a means to getting her green card. The two strike up a friendship which eventually evolves into something more. But it isn't long before they're faced with the big question – 'Is this real or just a rebound?'"

Special Features:

-Cast and crew interviews

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas 3D stars John Cho and Kal Penn returning for their third outing as the titular Harold and Kumar.

Six years have elapsed since Guantanemo Bay, leaving Harold and Kumar estranged from one another with very different families, friends and lives. But when Kumar arrives on Harold's doorstep during the holiday season with a mysterious package in hand, he inadvertently burns down Harold's father-in-law's beloved Christmas tree. To fix the problem, Harold and Kumar embark on a mission through New York City to find the perfect Christmas tree, once again stumbling into trouble at every single turn.

Special Features:

-Extended Cut: The 3D Blu-ray edition features 3D and 2D presentations of the 90-minute theatrical cut of the film and a 2D presentation of its 96-minute extended cut. The biggest downside? Not only is the extended cut not available in 3D, its 2D presentation doesn't offer a lossless audio option. Just a standard (but serviceable) 448kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track.

-Through the Haze with Tom Lennon (HD, 9 minutes): "World Famous Actor and Comedian" Thomas Lennon hosts … hilarious, uncensored, tongue-in-cheek EPK shorts: "I'm Doing a Puff Piece Over Here," "I Hate Drugs," "F#*@ You, Charles Dickens," "I'm Just Brainstorming Here," "The Marshmallow Man" and "19th Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told." I watched them twice, and I'll probably watch them anytime I revisit A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. Good stuff.

-Title (HD, 4 minutes): Community may have beaten them to the punch bowl by a full year, but Harold & Kumar's Christmas claymation sequence still delivers. Take a brief look at its creation, complete with a PiP comparison between its animated storyboard reel and the final scene. At four minutes, though, it's too short.

-Deleted Scenes (HD, 4 minutes): A small, inconsequential collection of deleted scenes. There are a few laughs to be had, but just a few.

Disney’s Lady and the Tramp is making its first appearance on dvd and blu-ray in a Diamond Edition and as with most classic Disney titles, will only be around for a limited time. Lady and the Tramp is the “love” story of  a cute, classy "Lady" cocker spaniel who escapes from her confining owner and falls for an alley dog, known as the "Tramp", when he rescues her from some mean dogs out on the streets. Surely you’re familiar with the “spaghetti scene”?

Special Features:

-Disc Introduction by Diane Disney Miller (HD, 2 minutes): Walt Disney's daughter briefly touches on her father's work, his love of animals, and his love of Lady and the Tramp; as Miller recalls, one of the legendary filmmaker's personal favorites.

-Audio Commentary: Inside Walt's Story Meetings: Time travel, dear readers. Time travel. "Inside Walt's Story Meetings" is an audio track featuring a talented group of voice actors delivering a dramatic recreation of Walt Disney's story meetings. With archive transcripts in hand and clever editing in tow, it's as close to a filmmakers' audio commentary as you can get on a film like this, and fans and animation enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy listening to Disney and his team develop, write and animate Lady and the Tramp.

-Disney Second Screen, Featuring "Inside Walt's Story Meetings" (HD): Download Disney's Second Screen app to your iPad or PC, sync the Lady and the Tramp Blu-ray with the app, and enjoy an interactive experience complete with behind-the-scenes materials, family activities, art and storyboard galleries, and more. It's a nice addition to the release, even if everyone isn't interested in taking advantage of it.

-Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad (HD, 8 minutes): Miller shares memories and stories about her father's life, career and legacy. Honestly, I wish this one was much longer. Every little tidbit that brings Walt Disney to life is appreciated, as it only enriches his contributions to the world of animation.

-Deleted Scenes (HD, 19 minutes): Though presented via storyboards, three deleted scenes — "Introduction of Boris," "Waiting for Baby" and "Dog Show" — are available for the curious completists among you.

-Never Recorded Song: "I'm Free as the Breeze" (HD, 2 minutes): While Lady and the Tramp was released in 1955, development began as early as 1936. "I'm Free as the Breeze," written in 1946 by Ray Gilbert and composed by Eliot Daniel, features Tramp explaining his life philosophy. It was cut when it was decided Tramp wouldn't be a singing dog.

-Classic DVD Bonus Features (SD, 157 minutes): The "Classic DVD" section of the disc includes almost all of the previously released DVD edition's extras, including the seven-part, 53-minute "Lady's Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp" (much of which is comprised of vintage featurettes with Walt Disney himself), "Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard," "Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film" (in truth a 12-minute storyboard treatment), "The Siamese Cat Song: Finding a Voice for the Cats," "PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs" (designed strictly for kids), a "Bella Notte Music Video," three "Theatrical Trailers," four lengthy "Excerpts from Disneyland TV Shows" and two more "Deleted Scenes." In other words, most everything you would have missed if Disney hadn't put it all on the disc. The only downside? It's all presented in standard definition.

-Sneak Peeks (HD, 10:58 minutes): Trailers and previews for Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, Cinderella, Brave, Chimpanzee, The Aristocats, Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3, ABC's The Chew, Disney Channel's Shake It Up and Mary Poppins: The Hit Broadway Musical round out the package.

We've also got a heads up on future release. Roman Polanski's Carnage starring three Oscar winners and a nominee in the form of Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly comes to dvd ad blu-ray on March 20.

The film is based on Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play, "The God of Carnage" and it's the story of two boys whose playground tussle leads to each child's parents taking on the other in "verbal warfare."

Special Features:

-Actors' Notes

-An Evening with John C. Reilly & Christoph Waltz

-On the Red Carpet

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Universal has released two new images from Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman, to add to the one they dropped at the end of last week (and I hadn’t gotten around to posting yet). We have a new look at Kristen Stewart looking more like the “fairest of them all” as well as the Evil Queen (Charlize Theron) decked out in black feathers (probably right before she turns herself into a black swan or maybe a crow). Then there’s Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman along with all eight of the dwarves. You heard me. This is not Disney’s Snow White.

By the way, did you know that Charlize Theron appeared as a guest judge on this season's Top Chef on Bravo and it was specifically to promote this movie? File that under “Things that make you go ‘huh’". You can watch the episode at the link. Snow White And The Huntsman lands on June 1st. I’m sure we’ll have more goodies soon.

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Okay my little Twi-hards, it’s time to get out your sparkly Twilight pens to mark an important date on your RPattz or Twilight calendars that you got for Christmas.  On Friday February 10, nearly 500 Target stores across America will be holding a Twilight pajama party…no, not really…well, sort of. They’ll be extending their hours to host a DVD-Blu ray launch party for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, which will be available for purchase at midnight. Beginning at 11:00pm, those eager fans attending will be treated to an exclusive look at a scene from the final film in the series, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which doesn’t even hit theaters until November. Target is offering an exclusive limited edition DVD of Part 1 (which will NOT include the world premiere clip). It will include an authentic flower from Bella and Edward’s wedding, with which to commemorate the occasion for now until eternity or Edward loses his sparkle, whichever comes first.

You can find a participating store in your area at Target.com/Twilight, but don’t even think about brow-beating any of the red-vested employees into telling you what scene you’ll see. They’ve been sworn to secrecy upon pain of death…not really. They won’t be told until that night, just to avoid such unpleasantness.

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Kristen Stewart has a new gig as the face of Balenciaga's newest scent that will be released this Fall. While they already have a scent (Paris) that Charlotte Gainsbourg will remain the face for, Kristen is the choice for the second one and is excited about the opportunity:

“Balenciaga has always stood out to me,” Stewart told WWD on Thursday. “Even when I first began to consider fashion and admittedly rarely knew the brand I was wearing, I always recognized and loved Balenciaga. It feels full circle to be involved with something that spoke to me then and of course continues to excite me now. The brand is just cool. That’s the way it is. I feel drawn to it. It provokes on a number of levels. It isn’t afraid or contrived. It hits a very cool balance, always. Always pretty undeniable.

Catherine Walsh, senior vice-president of Coty is equally smitten with Kristen:

Kristen stood out as an evident choice for this new fragrance,” “She has a unique sense of style, quite original and chic in the way she mixes fashion elements. Her elegant modernity and innate rebel style perfectly match with the spirit of Balenciaga.

Kristen has come a long way from when she first hit fame with the Twilight franchise. Her sense of fashion has improved significantly, hasn't it? She's beautiful and I can only imagine how gorgeous the ad campaign will be!

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We have more new images from first time helmer Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman. This is the one from Universal that stars Kristen Stewart as Snow, Chris Hemsworth as Eric, the Huntsman, Sam Claflin as Prince William, Noah Huntley as King Magnus and Charlize Theron (who passed on J. Edgar to do this-beauty and brains) as Ravenna, the Evil Queen. From a script co-written by the suddenly hot Hossein Amini (Drive, 47 Ronin),the synopsis for this version: In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Theron) who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Hemsworth) who was dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White's beauty and power.

Producer Joe Roth has already compared his film to The Lord of the Rings in terms of its epic scope. This is also the one with the kick-ass dwarves. All seven used to be named for Roman Emperors, but the names have since been changed: Caesar/Beith (Ian McShane), Tiberius/Neion (Nick Frost), Constantine/Muir (Bob Hoskins), Claudius/Coll (Toby Jones), Hadrian/Duir (Eddie Marsan),and Trajan/Gort (Ray Winstone-for some reason Ray Winstone playing someone named ‘Gort’ cracks me up), Stephen Graham was playing Nero but dropped out. I can’t figure out who replaced him.

Before Stewart was cast as Snow, nearly every ingénue in Hollywood tested for the role, including Lily Collins, who ended up being cast in Mirror, Mirror, the competing Snow White film. Before Hemsworth won the role of the Huntsman, it had been widely assumed that it would go to Viggo Mortensen. When talks broke down with him, Johnny Depp, Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy were all approached.

Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1 everywhere.

Here’s an international trailer for first time helmer Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman. This is the one from Universal that stars Kristen Stewart as Snow, Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, Sam Claflin as the Prince, Noah Huntley as King Magnus and Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen. The trailer isn’t all that much different than the English language version. The editing is tighter, so it’s shorter, and it does not have Theron’s voiceover narration.

From a script co-written by the suddenly hot Hossein Amini (Drive, 47 Ronin),the synopsis for this version: In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Theron) who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Hemsworth) who was dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White's beauty and power.

Producer Joe Roth has already compared his film to The Lord of the Rings in terms of its epic scope. This is also the one with the kick-ass dwarves. All seven used to be named for Roman Emperors, but the names have since been changed: Caesar/Beith (Ian McShane), Tiberius/Neion (Nick Frost), Constantine/Muir (Bob Hoskins), Claudius/Coll (Toby Jones), Hadrian/Duir (Eddie Marsan),and Trajan/Gort (Ray Winstone), Stephen Graham was playing Nero but dropped out. I can’t figure out who replaced him.

Since filming began in October, Kristen has accidentally Chris Hemsworth in the face giving him a black eye, suffered a foot injury then temporarily shut down production after she tore a ligament in her thumb during an attack scene. The kid is committed. 

 Snow White and the Huntsman opens June 1. Below are some pics from Entertainment Tonight’s set visit. Enjoy!