If it's Tuesday that means it's new DVD release day. And here at NXT, that means Videoport Jones, Videoport's biggest fan/stalker, is chomping at the bit to talk about some of the fresh meat on the shelves at your local video store or retailer.

Perfect Stranger
VPJ: "Bruce Willis did something bad to Halle Berry, apparently. She, using this newfangled intra-nets I've heard so much about, decides to make him uncomfortable by replying to his Myspace profile that she, too, enjoys walks on the beach at dusk and internet stalking. Videoport's JackieO reports that the filmmakers' idea of 'plot twists' is to have the script incomprehensibly rewritten by committee so that no one, audience, character, or director, has any clue what's going on."

JE: "I've got to agree with JackieO on this one. Isn't that how all movies are written these days? I've always had this joke idea that guys sit around, write random pronouns on a white board and someone greenlights it. Then a coke party ensues. But seriously, what did the director of this movie have on Halle Berry and Bruce Willis to get them to come on board? Plus, anything named Perfect Stranger has to involve Bronson Pinchot. That is not open for debate."

The Lives of Others
VPJ: "Now this is more like it. Oscar-winning German film chronicles the tangled lives of people living in the former East Germany with the repressive, irresponsible government spying on their every conversation, assignation and, seemingly, thought. Gee, I'm sure glad nothing like that happens anymore, huh? Videoport's had more requests for this film than any in recent memory."

JE: "I remember the buzz for this when it first came out. Germans have to be happy to not be represented as Nazis for once in film. What is it about films with somber, repressive, overreaching governments that gets people's attention. It's like that movie 'Street Fighter,' it was the same way, Raul Julia wanted to create an oppressive regime and only Jean Claude Van Damme could stop him. Actually, it's nothing like that."

The Ultimate Gift
VPJ: "Churchy, Mitch Albom-y feelgoodery about a young ne'er-do-well who learns some valuable, crusty, high-fiber lessons from gruff curmudgeons James Garner and Brian Dennehy."

JE: "I always think I'm supposed to like Mitch Albom because he's a fellow journalist. Alas, he's just not my cup of tea. Aren't movies like this made specifically for Sunday nights on CBS? This sounds like a waste of James Garner and Brian Dennehy. Why not make a Rockford Files movie? Oh wait, you want to recast it with Luke and Owen Wilson?"

"House"- Season 3.
VPJ: "Hugh Laurie is the most talented actor on television right now. Sure, I wonder why this little, nondescript hospital keeps getting walk-in cases of the Ebola virus every week, but Laurie is a multi-layered delight as the Holmesian doctor supersleuth. (And check out his BBC output like 'Jeeves and Wooster,' 'Blackadder,' and his hilarious sketch comedy show 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' [with Stephen Fry]; yeah, Videoport's got 'em)."

JE: "I never got on the House express. I think it's because I largely find Fox's promotions and show decisions grating. (Yeah, still haven't gotten over Arrested Development or Firefly. Thanks guys.) Also, as a guy who enjoys decent TV writing and sometimes shlocky stuff (I have been known to watch reruns of the Dukes of Hazzard and shows on the Sci-Fi channel) the whole gimicky "disease/disaster/disfiguration" of the week and surly, but brilliant doctor thing seems predictable. But you are right, he is excellent in most of his BBC work such as 'Blackadder' (also, yes, Mr. Bean actually talks and is funny.). I wonder if most fans would be shocked to hear him speak without the 'House' accent."

"Dexter"- Season 1.
VPJ:" Starring the younger brother from the late, lamented 'Six Feet Under' as a forensic pathologist CSI-type, who also moonlights as a serial killer preying on serial killers. Dude's got issues, is all I'm sayin'. (For geeks, this casting tidbit- his girlfriend is played by the actress who was the delightfully evil Darla on 'Buffy' and 'Angel')."

JE: "This is slowly becoming one of those shows that gets good word of mouth, and most likely people will catch up on by DVD. Think "The Wire," or "Weeds" on the same network. I've heard a lot of good stuff about this show and the premise is excellent. And now that you mentioned that Julie Benz is on the show, (and by the fact that I can recognize the character and name her from 'Buffy' and 'Angel' further cements my geek status), I'll have to pick it up."

Robocop - The Collector's Edition

VPJ: "20 years later, Paul Verhoeven's ultraviolent, ultrableak, action/satire extravaganza gets the deluxe, 2-disc treatment. (The Criterion Collection, in one of their most puzzling moves, once put out a deluxe, uncut edition, but it's gone out of print; Videoport has it, though!). Full of extras, including both the theatrical cut and the unedited one. Verhoeven's a weird guy; gratuitous, well, everything weighs down his movies into almost camp territory, except that sometimes (like Robocop and Starship Troopers) he seems to be slyly in on the joke, whereas in others (Showgirls! Basic Instinct!) he seems to think he's making THE MOST SERIOUSLY INTENSE MOVIE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN."

JE: "'I know you! You're dead! We killed you!' With dialogue that good, you know it deserves a collectors edition. I look at this as a fun movie, but when you look back at it, you honestly think - my god, how graphic is this going to get? Freak mutants? Murphy's graphic, grindhouse-esque death scene? I still can't figure out how I was allowed to see this movie as a kid? I always like movies that show a 'gritty' future, but why is future Detroit as bad as 80s Detroit? I get the biggest kick (and frankly, a scare) out of the fact that the Ford Taurus was the police car of the future in this movie."

Finally here are a few of Jonesy's picks for new arrivals at Videoport this week:

"The Blue Planet: Seas of Life." Another breathtaking BBC nature series on the heels of the acclaimed "Planet Earth".

"The Dark Backward." This cult flick (starring Portland's shame, Judd Nelson) finally hits DVD. It's about the least talented, least appealing, most oleaginous standup comic ever (appropriately, Nelson), who gains fame when he inexplicably grows a third arm out of his back. Why carry it? Why not!?

Two new arrivals from the Criterion Collection:
"House of Games." David Mamet's diabolical, fiendishly fascinating thriller about a psychiatrist (Lindsay Crouse) who gets drawn into the world of professional con artists (exemplified by Joe Mantegna). Simply outstanding.
"The Milky Way." Prankish, blasphemous, surrealist genius from the master of same Luis Bunuel. Love this guy...

"The Josephine Baker Story." Solid biopic about the ahead-of-her-time black entertainer's troubled life, with a good central performance by Lynn Whitfield. At least this was made before Halle Berry, by law, would have to have played the role. (Dorothy Dandridge wasn't so lucky, unfortunately).

Remember you can always check on what Mr. Jone is up to and read the weekly Video Report over at his blog and regular hangout.

Any thoughts on this week's new releases? Anything we missed that came out today? Are you a fan of House or Dexter?

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