Popular DVD Releases - May 6, 2008

The Movie Maven: A Sneak Peek at Films to Buy or Rent

What's new in video stores this week? Here's an insider's glimpse at brand-new DVDs you can purchase or rent for in-home movie viewing.

First Sunday (2008)

Written and directed by playwright David E. Talbert, this action-adventure film, now available on DVD from Sony Screen Gems, offers several comedic moments during its 94-minute playtime.

In First Sunday, the leading man, played by Ice Cube (Law and Order), decides to rob a church to gain the funds he needs to avoid losing custody of his son. Other stars in First Sunday include Katt Williams (Marshals), Tracy Morgan (Little Man and Head of State), Regina Hall (Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie4), Chi McBride (The Terminal, I-Robot and Roll, Bounce), Malinda Williams (Idlewild) and Loretta Devine (This Christmas).

The First Sunday DVD movie is rated PG-13.

I'm Not There (2007)

Directed by Academy Award nominee Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven), this 135-minute film symbolically explores the life and music of Bob Dylan.

The artist's life is portrayed in metaphorical vignettes in I'm Not There by six different actors: Marcus Carl Franklin (Be Kind Rewind and The Water Is Wide), Christian Bale (Batman Begins, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and The Dark Knight), Ben Whishaw (Brideshead Revisited and Stoned), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain, Monster's Ball, The Patriot and 10 Things I Hate About You), Cate Blanchette (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Aviator and Lord of the Rings) and Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Chicago, Runaway Bride and Primal Fear).

Blanchette received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

The I'm Not There DVD movie is rated R.

Over Her Dead Body (2008)

Written and directed by Jeff Lowell (Fetch and John Tucker Must Die), this wry comedy seems to sustain its ethereal premise for most of its 95-minute duration.