Hey kids! Uncle D here with a look at some historical and sports DVD collections certainly worthy of notice, plus some short shots of recent releases, ranging from animation to indie films. Ready, set, hit that menu button on the remote…

A History of Britain - The Complete Collection (2008 Repackage)
A&E Home Video

Simon Schama’s History of Britain television series is one of those programs you could put on thinking it’ll be in the background while you do dishes in kitchen, fold laundry, whatever, and suddenly you find yourself on the couch with a cup of coffee (or may a small glass of single malt), intrigued by the superbly done look at the UK over the centuries. From Roman Britain to the Norman Conquest, the Henrys and Richards, the Elizabethen era, American Revolution, the British Empire and Queen Victoria to Churchill — it’s all here. Schama injects wry comments and observations to turn it all into much more than history lessons, while one comes away enriched and informed with a sense of “I didn’t know about that before…” This reissue set contains all 15 episodes of the series on five discs. Consider this one for the history buff you know come holiday gift-giving time.

The Presidents Collection
PBS Home Video

Part of PBS’s American Experience series,  The Presidents Collection takes extensive looks at U.S. Presidents in the 20th century. There are profiles with perspective of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Each biography offers historical insights with bits of trivia about each of these statesmen from different walks of life, who would all go on to become the most powerful men on the planet. What’s amazing is a general lack of political bias, left or right, presenting honest looks at each White House icon of politics and leadership and their respective legacies. Also note that Amazon may well have the best price/deal on this one. Due out August 26th.

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Buzzine is giving away copies of the tremendous Presidents Collection.   Just tell us the inauguration date of John F. Kennedy.  Send that and your info to Presidents@buzzine.com

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The New York Mets Essential Games Of Shea Stadium (Steelbook)
The Boston Red Sox Essential Games of Fenway Park (Steelbook)
A&E

Are these one of your teams? If not, look for an upcoming release on the Essential Games of Yankee Stadium; I wonder how they’ll handle The Dodgers in Brooklyn and then Los Angeles. Of course, baseball experts will argue not so much about the games shown here, but the games that were left out — a sure case of “what about the one where…” Nonetheless, these are wonderful sports sets for true fans of that grand old game, packaged in “steelbooks” which beat out regular DVD cases as shelf-worthy and long-lasting. Among The Mets highlights: The 1969 World Series Game 4 vs. Baltimore Orioles, the 1986 National League Championship Series Game 3 vs. Houston Astros, and also from ‘86: World Series Game 6 vs. the Boston Red Sox. The Sox set includes a September 30, 1967 regular season vs. Minnesota Twins where Carl Yastrzemski hit his 44th home run, the 1975 World Series Game 6 vs. the Cincinnati Reds, and the 1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and MLB All-Century Team celebration held at Fenway. There are plenty of extra bits too, which include select clips and game moments, interviews, and more. Batter up. These collections are all lookin’ like grand slams.

Full Throttle Adrenaline
A&E Home Video

I really didn’t get NASCAR; then again, I’m not into auto racing at all. Sure, the occasional Indy500 watch over the years, but I probably watched more racing seeing Cars and then Speed Racer than I have when it comes to the real thing. Still, this DVD makes for one heck of a crash course with races, driver interviews, and an enthusiastic look at those who feel the need for speed, whether behind the wheel or watching those behind the wheel, all explaining the NASCAR passion and its rise in popularity over the past decade-plus.

Short Shots:

Animation Show, Volume 3
MTV

The third volume collecting the eclectic animated shorts that Mike Judge (King of the Hill) and Doug Hertzfeldt screen at thier semi-annual Animation Show. Among the highlights are “Tyger,” based on the William Blake poem (”Tiger, Tiger, burning bright…”), the live action/animation mix of “Calitopolis,” Hertzfeldt’s own and quite compelling “Everything Will Be Okay,” and the contrast CGI “No Room For Gerold,” where animal roomates attack, sort of, plus the atmospheric “Shuteye Hotel.” Judge’s Beavis and Butthead also make an appearance. There are also interviews with some of the filmmakers, as well as PDF text interviews too.

Shotgun Stories
Liberation Entertainment

A Best Picture-winner at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards, Shotgun Stories by writer/director Jeff Nichols is a tale of jealousy, anger, resentment, and revenge in the aftermath of a family funeral set in rural Arkansas. The camerawork is taut to match the reigned-in acting. It’s an antithesis of a happy tale or feel-good film — an impressive, even disturbing work that may not make one want to view more than once, but is still absorbing at times. The disc includes an audio commentary with Nichols about filming in Arkansas, casting the movie, and choosing locations, framing shots, and so on.

Smart People
Miramax

This one’s supposed to be wry and funny, but I sure didn’t chuckle much. It’s Dennis Quaid — always an underrated actor — who holds it all together as a widowed university literature professor — brilliant yet distant until fate takes a hand, which re-introduces former student Sarah Jessica Parker into his life. What begins as serious and almost coldly dour shifts into romantic comedy…almost. The kind of thing you might watch on TV, but buy to own…ehhh. But if you’re a Quaid or even a Parker fan, this might be for you.

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