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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Sorry, I’m late to this party but my internet was down for most of the day yesterday. (I’ve finally stopped shaking.) The Producers Guild Awards were held Saturday night January 21 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, the last stop on the circuit before the Academy Award nominations are announced (which they will be tomorrow morning). (That’s not to say it’s the last stop before the ceremony by any stretch. This coming Sunday we have the SAG awards to get through.) The Producers Guild Awards ceremony is different because it’s all about the films, or the television shows.  It’s about the finished product.  This might be why the winner of Producer of the Year is so often the producer of the Best Picture winner at the Oscars.

I’ve been saying for months that it’s going to come down to a battle between The Descendants and The Artist. (Which, by the way, has nothing to do with how I feel about those two films personally. I’m just psychic.) A fine point was pretty much put on that idea when the former won the Golden Globe for Best Drama and the latter won for Best Musical or Comedy.  The Artist got another leg up from the PGA when it won out over The Descendants and Thomas Langmann walked away with the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures of the Year honors.

I can’t remember when I’ve been looking forward to the Oscar nominations less than I am this year, with one exception. I’ll be biting my nails to find out if Michael Fassbender gets a nod or if Demian Bichir takes his slot again (as he did with the SAGs). He’s the only “outsider” with a chance. The one performance that I would have thought would have been a lock has been virtually and inexplicably shut out, and that’s Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus.  Would I love to be wrong? You bet I would. We’ll see.

In the meantime, enjoy the pretty pictures of some of the pretty people at Saturday night’s bash. Many of them didn’t walk the red carpet (just to show how serious the proceedings are. Plus I think George Clooney's squeeze had a prior committment. God forbid he should be seen solo), but we have some shots of Morticia and Gomez…I mean Angie and Brad, as well as Jessica Chastain looking very Jessica Rabbit (practicing for her Oscar look perhaps), Viola Davis looking absolutely stunning as always and Shailene Woodley looking old beyond her years. Someone get that girl a stylist!

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Since it’s Monday, I figured it might take a bit more to get the old heart pumping so we have another B-roll from Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus to share, as well as interviews with Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave who plays Coriolanus’ fierce, militaristic mother Volumnia and, of course, Gerard Butler who plays his arch-nemesis.

Written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, The Last Samurai, Rango, Hugo and Skyfall), Coriolanus is based on the Shakespeare play of the same name in which a banished hero of Rome, Caius Martius Coriolanus (Fiennes) allies with a sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Butler) to take his revenge on the city. Jessica Chastain plays Coriolanus’ wife Virgilia, Brian Cox plays mentor/advisor/father figure, Menenius and James Nesbitt is Sicinius

Enjoy the footage. Coriolanus is currently in theaters in NY, LA, San Francisco, the UK and select cities in Canada. It’s being slowly rolled out across the rest of the US during the coming weeks. (And entirely too slowly in my opinion! C’mon Harvey. You have other films on your slate besides Madonna’s.)

Part IV of IV

Ralph Fiennes Interview

Vanessa Redgrave Interview

Gerard Butler Interview

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We have a lot of B-roll clips from Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus to share with you. B-roll, in case you were wondering, is an editing term. It originally meant footage that was used to cover a ‘cut-away’ between dialogue. The footage was on a secondary or “B” roll of film.  That meaning is kind of antiquated since most movies are shot digitally and are edited in a very different manner. Today it generally means behind-the-scenes footage of the making of a film, shot alongside the filming of the actual movie, and usually used for a “making of” style documentary.

Technical enough for you? I find this stuff fascinating, but if you’re worried it will distract you when you get to see the movie, skip it and just watch the interviews. For me, since I’ve already seen the film once, I enjoy seeing the behind the scenes, then watching the movie again from a different angle.

Ralph Fiennes, making his directorial debut plays the title character from Shakespeare's historical tragedy. Gerard Butle plays his archenemy, Tullus Aufidius. Lest we get too esoteric…there’s a lot of great footage of Gerard Butler doing what he does best…acting…breathing…

Part I of IVPart II of IVPart III of IVMore to come!

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Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, Coriolanus, an adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s lesser known historical tragedies, finally opens wide in the US and the UK this Friday, January 20. Have I been looking forward to it? You know I have. (I really cannot wait to see it again! It’s a masterful, powerful film and a fantastic debut. No wonder BAFTA nominated it for Best First Feature – a category that other awards giving bodies should think about adding.)

Last night, January 17, Ralph along with Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain, attended another special screening fo the film, the second held in New York. (The Weinstein Company held one back in December before its awards qualifying opening.) Notably absent last night was Ralph’s co-star, Gerard Butler, who plays Coriolanus’ arch-nemesis Tullus Aufidius. That’s okay, he didn’t stand us up. He wasn’t expected to attend. (Which doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed, but I can live on the Golden Globes pics for a little while longer.)

Enjoy the pics from the screening as well as two new promo images (courtesy of Hollywood.com). Don’t let the fact that this is Shakespeare scare you off of this film. It’s highly accessible Shakespeare and its themes are extremely relevant.

The synopsis: The citizens of Rome are hungry. Coriolanus, the hero of Rome, a a revered and feared General and a man of inflexible self-belief despises the people. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus' anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city.

Bottom line, if you enjoyed The Hurt Locker, complete with tanks and explosions, you'll enjoy Coriolanus. Frankly if you like Greco-Roman wrestling, you'll like Coriolanus…just sayin'.

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Photo Credit: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Another new clip for Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, Coriolanus has been released. This one takes place early in the film when Caius Martius, aka Coriolanus (Fiennes) and his arch-nemesis Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) encounter each other in the heat of battle. Yeah…heat…very hot…and this clip ends before they even get to the good stuff.

Fiennes and screenwriter John Logan have updated the setting of Shakespeare’s play to the 21st century, yet maintained the language and style. The play's themes of class conflict, pride, betrayal and revenge are all still very relevant.

The synopsis: The citizens of Rome are hungry. Coriolanus, the hero of Rome, a a revered and feared General and a man of inflexible self-belief despises the people. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus' anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city.

Coriolanus, with Fiennes, Butler  and Vanessa Redgrave (You know I love typing those names together. I’m going to do it every chance I get), Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox and James Nesbitt, opens wide January 20. Go see it!

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