“Dollywoodn’t” you know it, an awesome DVD boxed set has been released saluting country music star Dolly Parton.
“Dolly: The Ultimate Collection” (Time Life) is a six-DVD set that captures the best video highlights from her iconic career.
The set includes 11 star-studded episodes from her fan-favorite 1980s TV variety show, her memorable 2009 “Live from London” concert, the 2019 BBC documentary “Dolly Parton: Here I Am,” and a special Christmas disc. The holiday disc features “A Down Home Country Christmas” from 1987 with Mac Davis and Burl Ives, and “Bob Hope’s Jolly Christmas Show” from 1988.
Among the guest appearances on the 11 episodes are those from Oprah Winfrey, the Smothers Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Kenny rogers, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, and others.
Other titles
“The Shawshank Redemption” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) is renowned for making its name off the video shelves, not the movie theater, so it’s apropos that the beloved American classic is available for the first time in 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR). The Ultra HD showcases 4K resolution with HDR and a wider color spectrum to make the home viewing experience like never before. And what a movie to show in 4K. Based on Stephen King’s novella, the movie marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Frank Darabont, who is one of only six filmmakers to ever have his first two feature films (“1994’s “The Shawshank Redemption” and 1999’s “The Green Mile”) nominated for the best picture Academy Award. Of course, Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are memorable in the prison-based movie. With a plethora of bonus features, the title is also available in Ultra HD Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray.
“Censor” (Magnolia Home Entertainment) has a great premise and also delivers a punch. A film censor (Niamh Algar) views a horror video that speaks directly to her sister’s mysterious disappearance. She resolves to unravel the puzzle behind the film and its enigmatic director. This quest blurs the lines between fiction and reality in, obviously, terrifying ways. The movie also stars Michael Smiley and Nicholas Burns.
In a modern take of the 1980s Tom Selleck TV show, “Magnum P.I.: Season Three” (CBS Home Entertainment) stars Jay Hernandez as Magnum and Perdita Weeks as sidekick Higgins. They tackle cases that involve repossessing a plane from a drug cartel, helping a mixed-martial arts fighter from being blackmailed into throwing a fight, and weathering a hurricane with two armed killers. Roger E. Mosley from the original series guest stars in an episode. Extras include deleted scenes and a gag reel.
“Dead Pigs” (Film Movement) is a special movie, having been recognized at Sundance with the special jury prize for ensemble acting. But it’s also special because it was the feature film debut of director Cathy Yan of “Birds of Prey” fame. This astonishing social satire, set in Shanghai, meshes the stories of five characters: an unfortunate pig farmer, a tough-as-nails homeowner defending her property, an unprincipled rich girl, a lovestruck busboy, and an American ex-patriot. Their worlds meet when thousands of dead pigs are found floating down the Huangpu River. The DVD comes with a bonus short film.
“Nuclear Nightmares” (Corinth Films) may have been made in 1980, but this new-to-DVD documentary is just as chilling today. Narrated by Peter Ustinov, the 90-minute film includes the thoughts of several leading war experts and political figures, including former Los Alamos Weapons Laboratory director Harold Agnew, former science adviser to President Eisenhower George Kistiakowsky, Oxford Universitiy war historian Prof. Michael Howard, Army unit members stationed at the demarcation line, Air Force officers manning nuclear missile launch controls, and many others. Viewers get a powerful look at how airpower, nuclear submarines, and underground intercontinental ballistic missiles launch pads are used.