Region 1 DVD Releases for August 15th, 2006: The Simpsons Season Eight, Scary Movie 4, Hoot

This week, Mr. Sparkle and Veal Chop finally make it to DVD.

The Simpsons - The Complete Eighth Season

The glory days of The Simpsons were over at this point, but this season had its moments...

- Kang and Kodos running for President.

- Hank Scorpio

- "Can I Borrow a Feeling?"

- "The Springfield Files," which is funny whether you like The X-Files or not.

- "I'm afraid I must insist. You see, my wife, she has been most vocal on the subject of the pretzel monies. 'Where's the money?' 'When are you going to get the money?' 'Why aren't you getting the money now?' And so on." (My favorite Fat Tony line.)

- "Dad, why'd you bring me to a gay steel mill?"

- And, of course, the funniest fifteen seconds in Simpsons history—Mr. Sparkle!

This season also contains my least favorite Simpsons episode of all time—"Homer's Enemy" (the one with Frank Grimes). But you know I'll get it anyway.

Scary Movie 4 (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

Since you've probably made up your mind already about whether or not you want to see this, I'll just entertain you with some trivia. The super-fancy, state-of-the-art digital camera that was used to shoot Superman Returns was also used to shoot this flick. Wasn't that exciting?

There are 15 deleted and extended scenes on this bad boy, along with bloopers and about six featurettes.

Hoot

Yeah, I'll bet you forgot this was ever in theaters. Do yourself a favor and rent Holes instead. It's only one extra letter and if reviews of Hoot are any indication, Holesis muuuuuuuch better.

I will say this is probably the only DVD coming out this week that has a featurette on Jimmy Buffet.

RV

I'm not so cynical as to imagine that Robin Williams' rehab was timed to coincide with this release, but if it were—Worst. Publicity stunt. Ever.

On the other hand, if you had to watch this movie, drunk is probably a good way.

After looking at the extras, which include a telestrator-assisted director's commentary and a featurette called "The Scoop on Poop," I'm revising my estimate to black tar heroin.

Safe Men

What if I told you there was a movie coming out with Paul Giamatti, Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn and Mark Ruffalo? Is that something you'd be interested in? What if I told you the movie already existed! Did I just blow your mind? What's more, it's actually pretty funny. Rockwell and Zahn play two failed entertainers who get roped into the world of safecracking, Ruffalo plays a real safecracker with epic facial hair and Giamatti plays a guy named Veal Chop. 'Nuff said.

Extras include commentary by the director, Zahn and Rockwell. Would not have expected Giamatti to be the biggest name of the bunch eight years later.

In this week's long list: I hope you like Charlie Rose. A lot.

3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 5