This week the DVD Savant takes a look at MGM's disc of Robert Altman's Images a disc which will delight his core of fans and probably not make much of a splash elsewhere, Return of the Secaucus 7 John Sayles' first film directing effort sets his career off with a resounding success. Seven old friends, ex-activists, get together to compare lives ten years later, The Ugly American Marlon Brando takes on the Cold War in Sarkhan, only to make all the wrong moves and White Hunter, Black Heart Clint Eastwood did it all perfectly, only he needed somebody besides himself to impersonate John Huston, whose blustery, intimidating personality is necessary to make this stealth bio work. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

The Aisle View is jam-packed with new reviews this week. Topping the list is the brilliant new film Lost in Translation starring Bill Murray. In addition to a review, there is A DVD Talk Exclusive Interview with writer/ director Sofia Coppola. Also new this week: the disappointing Underworld which is gothic eye-candy and not much else. Mike Figgis' new film Cold Creek Manor isn't terrible, but it isn't the fear-fest promoted in the ad campagain. Last but not least, Cuba Gooding Jr's death spiral of a career takes another bad turn in The Fighting Temptations. Want to get The Aisle View right when it's published? Sign Up to get The Aisle View delivered free to your email box!

This week The Blue Room takes a look at Digital Playground's starlet Jessie Jane and her stunning performance in Beat The Devil - Jessie Jane is a 'take charge' kinda gal and she sizzles in Digital Playground's latest. The Blue Room also takes a look at Andrew Blake's Jim Holliday's Cheerleader Pink from - with trademark one liners and a Director's Commentary track that explains it all, and Mary Carey Rules! which gives you a up close and personal look at the woman trying to beat out Arnold to be Governor of California. Finally if you SUBSCRIBE to get The Blue Room FREE via email you'll get an exclusive coupon emailed to you!!

Universal has done it again, announcing more versions of American Wedding (aka American Pie 3) than anyone can possibly keep track of (we hear no less than 5 configurations all out on January 2, 2004). For most American Pie Fans it's easy to reduce the number of releases to consider to 2: The extremely goofy titled American Wedding: Extended Party Edition (Unrated / Widescreen) and an American Wedding Gift Set which includes the 'Extended Party Edition' and a Bonus 'American Pie Revealed' DVD. Now we like the American Pie series as much as the next guy, but we're hard pressed to recommend spending $30 for the Gift Set knowing that someday somehow there's going to be yet another American Pie super ultra box set edition. Of course this is all a bit premature because no features for the 'Pies' have been announced (please no emails about this being a half baked announcement...)

With so many DVD releases every week it's EXTREMELY easy to overlook some of the smaller but noteworthy films. We call these DVDs 'Hidden Gems' and this week we've got a number of them for you to put on your DVD list: Jump Tomorrow - one of the best indie love stories beats the pants off any Hollywood bubble gum romantic comedy, Revolution OS - a fantastic look at the ethos of Linux, Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman fantastic but fairly unknown BBC series, Jamie Oliver: Oliver's Twist - an easy to miss release from the guy behind 'The Naked Chef', Holes a superior kid friendly flick, ignored in theaters but is a charmer on DVD, Russian Ark - 1 shot, 96 minutes, absolute poetry! Once Were Warriors a powerful film and a extremely well done DVD.

Media Blasters has announced the DVD release for the Director Takashi Miike's Ichi The Killer. Set for release on November 18th Ichi The Killer will be available in an unrated/uncut edition and an R Rated edtion (we'll post the full specs as soon as they are available). As with many of Takashi Miike's films (including Dead or Alive, Visitor Q Audition) Ichi The Killer is an ultra violent film and has not been widely available in it's uncut form. Check out The Trailer for Ichi The Killer (which is of course quite violent, but not as violent as this one) and Pre-order Ichi The Killer - Uncut at DVDEmpire.com.

It used to be that DVD fans would groan any time a studio would announce a re-release, and in the early days of DVD many re-releases we're marginal improvements over the original. Recently studios have been beefing up their re-releases into DVDs worthy a second look including: Fargo:SE with new documentaries and features Fargo fans will want to think about an upgrade, Enigma:SE - an improvement over the worst edge enhanced transfer we've ever seen, Ninja Scroll -10th Anniversary Edition - one of our favorite anime DVDs now with DTS 6.1 and in anamorphic widescreen, National Lampoon's Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition with a new transfer and over an hour of new documentary footage it's a winner despite the goofy marketing driven name.

Over a year ago DVD Talk Columnist Cinema Gotham broke the news of new DVD of John Sayles' The Brother From Another Planet. It took a little longer to come to DVD than we had hoped but finally the release is here and we've got a Complete Review of the Brother From Another Planet DVD. In addition to the review we also have our original interview with John Sayles so be sure to check them both out!