National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Tomatometer: 32%

Audiences just can't get enough of globe-hopping treasure hunters, can they? Nicolas Cage's sequel to 2004's Indiana Jones-ripping National Treasure eclipsed the success of its predecessor and is set to continue the trend as it comes to DVD this week. Cage reprises his role as Ben Gates, who now must defend his great-great-grandfather's reputation, kidnap the President, find a city of gold, and uncover the titular tome.

Bonus Features:

The two-disc release includes commentary by director Jon Turtletaub and John Voight, deleted scenes, and tons of featurettes. Perhaps one of them explains why Oscar-winner Helen Mirren signed on for a part as Mama Gates, Ben's historian mother.

George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead

Tomatometer: 60%

Horror master George A. Romero gambled on his own storied zombie franchise in his most recent horror film, shot largely with handheld cameras in a cinema verite style --- which could have been called "The Blair Witch Zombie Project." Shot documentary-style by a gaggle of college kids who find themselves documenting a zombie outbreak, Diary provides expected levels of gore and suspense, heavily tempered by Romero's own political bent.

Bonus Features:

Bonus menu highlights are five user-submitted short films that won a place on the DVD.

Night of the Living Dead


Tomatometer: 95%

Romero's first cult hit is also returning to DVD this week in an all-new restored and remastered cut. The 40th Anniversary release features cast and crew commentaries, the "Last Interview with Duane Jones," a gallery of stills, a DVD-ROM screenplay, and more.

Strange Wilderness

Tomatometer: 00%

Giving the miserable thriller One Missed Call a run for its money as the worst-reviewed film of 2008 is this "comedy"; it's got fewer reviews in and made far less money, but the Tomatometer remains the same: double zeroes! When the hosts of a nature show become desperate for ratings, they go into the wild in search of Bigfoot.

Bonus Features:

Will a full menu of deleted scenes and featurettes make this worth your while? We doubt it.




The Flock

Tomatometer: N/A

This Richard Gere starrer was slated for theatrical release once upon a time -- and really, haven't we seen plenty of terrible thrillers come and go already this year? (Deception, we're looking at you.) Director Andrew Lau, whose Infernal Affairs inspired Marty Scorsese's Oscar-winning The Departed, makes his English language debut with this sex crime suspense flick, which makes its way straight to DVD this week.

Bonus Features:

Nothing says "bonus" like a supporting performance by Avril Lavigne, right?

The Muppet Show - Season Three

Tomatometer: N/A

"It's time to play the music; it's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight!" Season Three of The Muppet Show is available this week in a splendid four-disc collection, a must-own for any fan of Kermit and co.

Bonus Features:

Featuring the likes of Gilda Radner, Cheryl Ladd, Raquel Welch, and Sylvester Stallone, the expansive release has bonus material like the 1968 documentary "Muppets on Puppets," vintage Muppet commercials, and an all new featurette in which key players reminisce on the origins of characters like Miss Piggy (watch a clip below).

'Til next week, happy viewing!