“Kung Fu Hustle”
Columbia TriStar, $28.95
Who’s in it: Stephen Chow, Qiu Yuen, Wah Yuen
More Top Picks Braun Series 8 With Powercase
Recap: Members of a vicious gang butt heads (often literally) with the village peasants. Director/ star Chow incorporates tons of creative CGI tricks and references everything from Martin Scorsese flicks to Road Runner cartoons.
Best extra: “Behind The Scenes of Kung Fu Hustle” actually offers an informative glimpse of just that, rather than the usual empty promotional blather.
Secrets revealed: Hong Kong legend Sammo Hung directed two sequences in the film, including the one-man-versus-1,000 “Matrix” parody.
Feature to skip: The two extended scenes don’t really add anything.
Trivia: Several scenes were trimmed down for the U.S. release, including the toilet-humor punch line to a gag, now a confusing non-sequitor.
If you liked this, try: “Shaolin Soccer,” Chow’s even sillier previous film.
Rating: 3 REMOTES
“The Muppet Show: Season 1”
Buena Vista, $39.99
Who’s in it: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy
Recap: Finally, the complete first season of “The Muppet Show” in all its anarchic, satiric, subversive glory.
Best extra: The “Original Pitch Reel” is an inspired bit of lunacy that highlights the show’s appeal to kids, adults and nutballs alike in rapid-fire fashion.
Secrets revealed: In the original pilot, titled “Sex and Violence,” Kermit the Frog does not host the show, though he and a few other “Sesame Street” mainstays make cameos.
Feature to skip: The gag reel is really just a few somewhat amusing promo spots featuring Kermit.
Trivia: Jim Henson’s creation was originally produced in England, the only place he could land funding.
If you liked this, try: Staying patient for later seasons, when the caliber of guests rises to the likes of Steve Martin and John Cleese.
Rating: 4 REMOTES
COMING SOON
In stores next week:
– “Brown Bunny”
– “Sin City”
– “The Wedding Date”
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– “The Man Who Copied”
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Edited by Curt Wagner ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])