Are You Ready For Some High School Football?

The second season of the critically acclaimed but ratings starved NBC show Friday Night Lights hits DVD on April 22nd. The second season was unfortunately cut short by the writers' strike, with only 15 episodes produced for the season. The fate of the show currently hangs in the balance, with fans all over the internet posting online petitions to save the show. One of the more creative ones can be found here.

Pending For A Bending

The second straight-to-DVD Futurama film, Futurama: Beast With A Billion Backs is scheduled for release on June 6th. The film picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Futurama: Bender's Big Score, so if you're behind on the exploits of the Planet Express crew be sure to pick it up before the June release of Beast With A Billion Backs. The Hypnotoad commands it!

Honest To Blog

Juno, the newly christened Academy Award® winner for Best Original Screenplay is set for release on April 18th. The film, starring Ellen Page as the titular wise-cracking baby mama, will be released as a single disc version, a 2 disc special edition, and a special edition Blu-Ray. Both special editions will include a digital copy for viewing on your computer or iPod.

Three Down, Two To Go

Universal has announced a March 18th release date for the Oscar ®-nominated film Atonement. The film will be available in widescreen and fullscreen formats as well as (surprisingly) a combo format HD-DVD. With this announcement, this past Tuesday's release of Michael Clayton, and the pending release of No Country For Old Men, that leaves only an announcement for Juno and There Will Be Blood to round up all the Best Picture nominees on DVD. Stayed tuned to Empire Eyes Forward, where we'll have news of a Juno and There Will Be Blood street date as soon as it's available.

Gettin' Jiggy With Myself

On March 18th, the blockbuster hit I Am Legend comes to DVD and Blu-Ray, with an HD-DVD version to follow on April 8th. The film will be released in fullscreen and widescreen formats, as well as a 2 disc special edition including an alternate version of the film with what the package describes as a "controversial ending," which will also be included on both high-def versions. If I were a betting man, I'd say the end features a tense showdown involving Will Smith trying to convince his cousin Carlton to give him the gun he purchased for self defense.

There Will Be Meat Pies

Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street comes home on April 1st. You have the option of a single disc version or a 2 disc special edition. Finally, you can sing along with the film in the comfort of your own home and not annoy fellow moviegoers...not that I've actually done that in a theater...within the past week...I have an excellent singing voice, I don't care what the security guards at AMC Theatres say!

Is This A Clue To Pre-Order? Yes.

The blockbuster sequel National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets has been announced for a May 20th release date on DVD, a 2-disc Gold Collector's Edition, and Blu-Ray. The smash franchise, starring Nicolas Cage as treasure hunter Ben Gates, continues to laugh in the face of poor to lukewarm critics' reviews by succeeding at the box office, mainly with families and receding hairline enthusiasts.

Korrection To "Kriterion For Kidz"

As we previously reported on January 30th, Criterion will be releasing The Red Balloon, White Mane, and Paddle To The Sea. These three titles, however, will not be actual Criterion releases with the traditional spine number or extensive supplemental features. The full Criterion treatment will be given to The Red Balloon and White Mane at a later date (for those fearing the dreaded double dip), but currently Paddle To The Sea is not scheduled to get the same Criterion gloss. For full details, check out Criterion's blog On Five.

Rush, Don't Walk, To Pre-Order August Rush

The musical family drama August Rush arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 11th, with an HD-DVD version to follow on April 1st. The DVD version will include both fullscreen and 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen presentations on a flipper disc, while the high def formats will include the 2.40:1 theatrical presentation.

Pre-Order Now, A Thousand Times Over

Director Marc Forster's The Kite Runner has been scheduled for release on DVD on March 25th. The film, based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, stirred up controversy upon it's release due to the rape scene which put the lives of the child actors in jeopardy in their homeland of Afghanistan.

Cox Blocks April 8th

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on April 8th. The film will be released in a one-disc theatrical edition, a two-disc unrated version, and a 2-disc unrated Blu-Ray. Most of you probably missed Walk Hard in theaters, as it was considered somewhat of a box office disappointment compared with producer Judd Apatow's other 2007 smash hits, Knocked Up and Superbad, however it's a hilarious and witty send-up of melodramatic biopics like Ray and Walk The Line that should please any music fan. Plus, it stars the always adorable Jenna Fischer, who will always be worth at least 96 minutes of my time.

Hurry April, Hurry Fast

An April 1st release date has been set for Alvin And The Chipmunks on DVD and Blu-Ray, with each version including it's own digital copy, allowing you to view the film on your computer or iPod. The DVD version will include both widescreen and fullscreen versions of the film on a flipper disc.