Sunnyvale's Savior - 7:55pm

Kicking off today's news is another batch of direct-to-video, cheapie catalog and TV on DVD announcements from Fox Home Entertainment.

December 16th will see another clutch of uber-cheap $9.95 specials, all classics: Darkest Night, Operation Wolverine, Storm Catcher, U.S. Seals: Dead or Alive, U.S. Seals 2: The Ultimate Force; Only the Strong and National Lampoon's Repli-Kate. All are presented in full screen and lack any extras at all (except for Operation Wolverine, which includes a still gallery and trailer). Hey, what do you expect for less than ten bucks?

Up next are two new direct-to-video releases. The Michael Madsen thriller 44 Minutes is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1, with extras that include two featurettes, "Behind the Scenes" and "The Shield FX." Retail is $29.95. Then Busta Rhymes, fresh off of Halloween Resurrection, returns in Dude, Where Going to Rio. The flick is also presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1, plus an audio commentary by Pharrell Williams, "The Eighth Planet" featurette and 3 music videos. Retail will also set you back $29.95.

Rounding out Fox's December lineup are another couple of TV on DVD titles. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fifth Season debuts on the 9th and once again includes 4:3 full screen transfers and English, French and Spanish Dolby 2.0 surround tracks. Extras are plentiful, with audio commentaries on "Real Me," "Fool for Love," "I Was Made to Love You" and "The Body," complete scripts for "The Replacement," "Fool for Love," " Into the Woods" and "Checkpoint," "The Story of Season 5," documentary, the featurettes "Buffy Abroad," "Demonology - A Slayer's Guide," "Casting Buffy," "Action Heroes! - The Stunts of Buffy," "Natural Causes" and "Spotlight on Dawn," outtakes and a still gallery, plus the ROM-exclusive Buffy Demon Guide. Retail is $59.95. Last but not least is MASH: The Complete Fifth Season, also due on the 9th and another bare bones box set with 4:3 full screen transfers and mono tracks (with or without laugh tracks). There are no extras, and retail will cost you $39.95.

Lost in the Stars - 7:55pm

They came, they saw, they got lost. While it failed to drum up much business, Gus Van Sant's Gerry was the talk of the festival circuit earlier this year and will make its DVD debut on November 11th courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, although there are but a couple of extras: audio commentary by Van Sant and some trailers. Retail is $29.95.

More new announcements from Buena Vista include the latest installments in the Walt Disney Treasures series, four in all, and each due on December 2nd: Mickey Mouse In Living Color Volume 2, The Chronological Donald, On the Front Lines and Tommorrowland. Each are again hosted by Leonard Maltin and include the usual gaggle of rare shorts and TV specials, extensive still galleries and other rare materials. Quantities are limited so get 'em while you can. Retail is $32.95 a box.

Last but not least are a trio of late-breaking October releases, all set for the 14th. The provocative drama Blue Car gets the special edition treatment, complete with anamorphic widescreen transfer, audio commentary by director Karen Moncrieff, deleted scenes with optional commentary and trailers. Next is the tongue-twisting Naqoyqatsi, the third in the acclaimed documentary series. Complete with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, goodies include the "Life is War" and "Music of Naqoyqatsi" featurettes, a NYU panel discussion and trailers for the entire trilogy. Last but not least is another three-peater, Mimic 3: Sentinel. This direct-to-video sequel also gets the anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 treatment, and also includes a featurette. Retail is $29.95 apiece for all of the above.