Now that winter is in full swings and the holidays are behind us, there's not much to do, right? Cabin fever has never been better if you ask me! Over the past month there have been several anime shows that have come out and if you missed some of them, here's your chance to catch up with the latest. FUNimation continues to dominate the competition, but Bandai and VIZ are closing that gap. It's also worth noting that older shows from ADV and Geneon are hitting stores as well. Not only has there been a slew of anime released recently, but with the economy going down the drains there are plenty of bargains to be had as well. Our review crew rounds up the latest titles they've been watching for January and WTK lends a hand to ease your wallet in this financial crisis. . Catch the latest anime reviews, DVD deals, and more in this month's Anime Talk.

Liam Neeson's daughter has been kidnapped and all of Europe is going to pay in the fantastic popcorn thriller Taken. Renee Zellweger partakes in the rancid anti-Minnesota romantic comedy New in Town. And remake horror cinema meets up with the Korean chiller "A Tale of Two Sisters" in the tedious thriller The Uninvited. Also in theaters: Education finds a new hope in Paris in The Class. And check out reviews of more films vying for statues at the 2009 Academy Awards: The Dark Knight, Doubt, Changeling, Waltz with Bashir, and Frozen River. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Outlander, Che, The Wrestler, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, Gran Torino, Hotel for Dogs, Donkey Punch, and Inkheart. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include:  The Lone Ranger - 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition - consisting of the television series' first two seasons along with an especially strong selection of extra features, this is a dream come true; Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIV - four more episodes of the cult show that is smart, entertaining, sometimes sweet, often devastatingly mean, and above all, funny. Laugh-out-loud, side-splitting, run-that-back-because-you-were-laughing-over-the-next-joke funny; and The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 1 - a show that is surprisingly fresh, funny and honest. Other shows recently reviewed include:  The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Collection, The f Word - Series One, and Emergency! - Season Five.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection - This might really be called the "Troy Donahue" Collection, or the "Three Out of Four Delmer Daves Collection". The soapy dramas all center on (shhh!) sex issues with teens and young adults, in a glossy never-land of Hollywoodized glamour. For your enjoyment: Parrish, Susan Slade, Rome Adventure, Palm Springs Weekend; Our Man in Havana - Sony's latest Martini Movies offering brings us Carol Reed and Graham Greene's espionage serio-comedy set in pre-Castro Cuba and filmed immediately after the revolution. Alec Guinness is the mousy vacuum cleaner salesman who makes ends meet by becoming an extremely dishonest secret agent -- until real spies close in on him; and Zodiac - David Fincher's detailed look at a decades-long crime investigation is a winner in Blu-ray. It comes with all the extras from the earlier special edition.. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Don't worry about running out of DVDs to purchase in 2009, there are still some good titles that are being released. Recently announced DVDs and Blu-rays of note include: Quantum of Solace [Blu-ray]- Daniel Craig reprises his role as 007 in this action packed sequel. Available on DVD and Blu-ray on 3-24-09; Disney's newest animated feature Bolt [Blu-ray]also hits shelves on 3-24-09; and finally, they're tiny, they're toony, they're all a little loony... yep Tiny Toon Adventures: Season 1, Vol. 2 arrives on 4-21-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

Some noteworthy DVDs are coming out this week including: The Bourne Trilogy (Blu-ray) [review] - Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne comes to life in these three excellent action-packed movies finally available on Blu-ray; Vicky Cristina Barcelona [Blu-ray review]- Woody Allen's best film in years and is well worth discovering; and RocknRolla [DVD review, Blu-ray review]- an invigorating, grimly hilarious film with more gravitas and hangdog heroics than previously seen. Other releases of note include:  Open Season 2 [review], Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired [review], and Pride and Glory [review]. Be sure to check out our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including some discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD Reviews include: Casablanca - one of the best movies ever made, delivered in a ridiculously lavish set that celebrates the film gloriously; Magnificent Obsession - Criterion Collection - full of well-drawn characters and deeper ideas than one might expect from a romantic sudser, it's a masterfully crafted tale; and Repo! The Genetic Opera - three DVDTalk reviewers highly recommend this disc, and that's high praise indeed. (Getting three reviewers to agree on anything is a minor miracle.) Other recent reviews include: Eden Lake, Frontrunners, and How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.  Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

The war between the Lycans and Vampires unearths its origin in the Beckinsale-free prequel Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Brendan Fraser has the ability to live a literary adventure in the family thrill ride Inkheart. And the Vikings of yore battle the creatures of tomorrow in the sci-fi actioner Outlander. Also in theaters: Suspense finds its way to idiot twentysomethings in the horror film Donkey Punch. And check out reviews of the five films vying for the Best Picture prize at the 2009 Academy Awards: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader, Frost/Nixon, Milk, and Slumdog Millionaire. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Che, The Wrestler, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, Gran Torino, Revolutionary Road, Defiance, Bedtime Stories, Notorious, and The Unborn. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Another great week for TV on DVD reviews with some wonderful shows, both new and old, arriving on DVD. Reviews you'll want to check out include:  The Complete Steve Canyon on TV - Volume 1 - Each episode has been lovingly restored and there are a mountain of extra features and other incentives making this a highly desirable title; 10 Items or Less - The Complete First & Second Seasons - Sunny, light, charming, and agreeably sick at times, this show doesn't have anything more weighty on its mind than to entertain us with its "improvicom" silliness; and Children of the Stones - a brilliant work of sinister mood, aimed at children without talking down to them. Youths will thrill to the uncanny adventure, and their parents will delight in the story's complex ideas. Other shows recently reviewed include:  Little Britain USA, Swingtown - The First Season, and Lovejoy - The Complete Season Four.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Don't worry about running out of DVDs to purchase in 2009, there are still some good titles that are being released. Recently announced DVDs and Blu-rays of note include: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: Walt Disney Family Classics - The classic Disney adventure film gets a new release on 3-10-09; Doctor Who: The E-Space Trilogy contains a trio of Tom Baker adventures: Full Circle, State of Decay, and Warriors' Gate. It arrives in stores on 5-5-09; and 3-247-09 sees the release of Andy Richter Controls The Universe: The Complete Series Conan O'Brien's one-time side kick stars in an amusing sitcom that was cancelled way too soon. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Breakfast at Tiffany's - Paramount's Centennial Collection presents the tale of Holly Golightly in a 2-disc edition, with additional extras. With George Peppard and Cat the cat; Father of the Kamikaze - AnimEigo's engrossing 3-hour epic covers Japan's notorious strategy to stop the U.S. Navy in WW2; and Caligula - The X-rated Penthouse Roman epic comes to Blu-ray with all of the The Imperial Edition extras intact. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some great DVDs are being released this week, and DVDTalk has them covered. Some of the more notable releases include: City of Ember [review, 2nd review] - one of 2008's forgotten gems; King Kong (Blu-ray) [review]- You'll need to see it to believe how incredibly detailed this transfer is; and Henry Poole Is Here [review]- an admirably bold, fascinating film that dodges cynicism and tells a compelling story well. Other releases of note include:  Moonlight - The Complete Series [review], Igor [review], and Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger [review]. Be sure to check out our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Some great new discs were added to the DVD Talk Review Database over the past week. In case you missed them, recent DVD reviews include: Underworld & Underworld: Evolution - two entertaining action-packed horror fantasies at a discount price; Humboldt County - a rare, unique film that crafts a heartfelt and quietly effective drama; and Brick Lane - an engaging, turbulent picture that pays careful concentration to the tender nuances of the longing, unfulfilled heart. Other recent reviews include: The Lady with the Dog, Mary Poppins: 45th Anniversary Edition, and Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras.  Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

Spend the weekend with a loved one, watching innards pulled apart and jaws ripped off in the unconvincing horror remake My Bloody Valentine 3-D. Kevin James falls down and goes boom quite a bit in the slapstick comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop. And iconic rapper Biggie Smalls gets the sanitized bio-pic treatment in Notorious. Also in theaters: Bollywood learns some kung fu in the action comedy Chandni Chowk to China. And pooches of all shapes and sizes check into luxury at the Hotel for Dogs. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Che, The Wrestler, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Gran Torino, Revolutionary Road, Defiance, Bedtime Stories, Bride Wars, and The Unborn. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk For

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including:  The Last Detective: Complete Collection - one of the best detective/mystery shows to be released a while, Peter Davison's fine genial performance make this one a winner; Crime 360: The Complete Season 1 - a solid crime documentary television series; and Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust - an unusually thought-provoking piece that helps to give some historical context to Hollywood's response to the Holocaust. Other shows recently reviewed include:  The Waltons - The Complete Eighth Season, TV Party: The Everything For Sale Show, and Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Don't worry about running out of DVDs to purchase in 2009, there are still some good titles that are being released. Recently announced DVDs and Blu-rays of note include: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - The sequel to the animated hit will arrive in stores on 2-6-09; On 2-10-09 Universal will release Clint Eastwood: American Icon Collection containing Play Misty for Me, The Eiger Sanction, Coogan's Bluff, and The Beguiledand; and 3-17-09 sees the release of The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 5: 1946-1948 featuring more slapstick than you can hit with a sledge hammer. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: The Last Emperor - The new Blu-ray contains the theatrical cut of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 Oscar winner; The Man Who Fell to Earth - Another Blu-ray upgrade of a popular Criterion release. Alien David Bowie is lost on Earth in Nicolas Roeg's spacey Sci-Fi experiment; and Short Films by Werner Herzog - Werner Herzog presents two of his idiosyncratic docus from 1984 and one "joke" film from 1969: The Dark Glow of the Mountains, Ballad of the Little Soldier and Precautions Against Fanatics. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week we have a special giveaway for the NBC mini-series epic Captains and the Kings, now on DVD from KOCH Vision. Winner of two Emmy Awards including Outstanding Lead Actress (Patty Duke) and Cinematography, this rags to riches story of an American dynasty (inspired by the Kennedy family saga) was based on the 1972 best-selling novel by Taylor Caldwell. Richard Jordan (in a Golden Globe-winning role) leads the star-studded cast as Joseph Armagh, a penniless Irish immigrant who comes to America in the mid-19th century in search of a better life for his family. Through struggle, heartache and ruthless perseverance, Armagh becomes one of the richest and most powerful men in the country, but fortune has its price... Available for the first time ever on DVD, Captains and the Kings is presented in its entirety on 3 discs and also includes an exclusive bonus interview with star Blair Brown (view clip). Enter now for your chance to win one of 5 copies of Captains and the Kings.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: Funny Face - The Centennial Collection [review] - a visual delight, full of wonderful sights and sounds and an impeccable cast; Appaloosa [review]- a strong period piece and a genuinely rousing adventure; and My Bloody Valentine: Special Edition [1st review, 2nd review]- an entertaining - and rather silly - entry from the heyday of the slasher film. Other releases of note include:  Brideshead Revisited [review], Father of the Kamikaze [review], and The Order of Myths [review]. Be sure to check out our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including some discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD Reviews include: Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.0 - this series is a must for lovers of sci-fi or anyone looking for solid drama and great character development; The Ron Howard Spotlight Collection - four must-own movies - "Backdraft," "Apollo 13," "A Beautiful Mind," and "Cinderella Man" - beautifully packaged and priced for value; and Eden Lake - a violent and intense thriller that's clever, intelligent, and well-acted. Other recent reviews include: Flow, Igor [2nd review], and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's.  Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway set aside their professional self-respect and engage in some profoundly unfunny Bride Wars. A demonic spirit wants entrance to our world in the horror film The Unborn. And unrelenting melodrama finds its way to the Bishop T.D. Jakes in Not Easily Broken. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Che, The Wrestler, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Gran Torino, Revolutionary Road, Marley & Me, Bedtime Stories, The Spirit, and Valkyrie. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

2008 was a great year for TV on DVD and 2009 is shaping up to be just as exciting. Some of the newest TV series reviews include:  Get Smart: The Complete Series - the show remains one of the funniest half-hours you can find and this extensive, borderline exhaustive five-season set is well worth its hefty price tag; Wagon Train - The Complete Color Season - one of the superior dramas of late 50s, early 60s television - just plain well-written, superiorly-acted, flat-out entertaining oaters, distinguished by complex, character-driven stories; and Studio One Anthology - must viewing for anyone interested in the roots of American network TV, as well as the development of American drama. Other shows recently reviewed include:  Metalocalypse - Season 2, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 6, and M Squad - The Complete Series.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

2009 is shaping up to be a good year for film buffs with several key titles being released in high definition and SD DVD. Recently announced DVDs and Blu-rays of note include: Last Metro (Criterion Collection) - Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve star in this film directed by François Truffaut. 'Nuff said. It will hit shelves on 03-24-09; Clint Eastwood's true crime film Changeling arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on 02-17-09; and the classic dramedy TV show Room 222-Season One featuring Karen Valentine arrives on 03-24-09 thanks to Shout! Factory. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Bottle Rocket (Blu-ray) - Wes Anderson's breakthrough comedy hasn't lost a single quirk, and looks terrific in the clarity of Blu-ray. Criterion's extras contain the entire original short subject version; Chamber of Horrors & The Brides of Fu Manchu - Another Warners Horror Double Feature offering. The first is an amusing murder spree in old Baltimore with Patrick O'Neal in fine form as a homicidal maniac. Don Sharp's first Fu Manchu sequel is an okay period thriller starring Christopher Lee; and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands - Bruno Barreto's Original Director's Cut of this wonderful, sexy Sonia Braga fantasy is even spicer. With an improved transfer. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week we have a special giveaway from SLAPPA, innovators of high-end DVD storage solutions. Renowned for their patented d2 "layered" pockets (holds two DVDs, Blu-rays or HD DVDs along with the covers and inserts), SLAPPA DVD cases are a must have for the serious movie collector. Their DVD wallets and DVD storage boxes are made with the highest quality materials, unique designs and an array of incredible features. Enter now for your chance to win one of three 90/90 d2i DVD Cases from SLAPPA.