New Blu-rays: 'Lost: Season One & Two,' 'John Adams' and anniversary editions of 'Ghostbusters' and 'The Diary of Anne Frank'

“MADEA GOES TO JAIL”

“GHOSTBUSTERS: 25^th ANNIVERISARY EDITION”

“FRIDAY THE 13TH: KILLER CUT”

“MIRACLE”

 “LOST: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON”

“JOHN ADAMS”

 “THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION”

“GENERATION KILL”

“THE SIEGE”

“MURDOCH MYSTERIES”

“MADEA GOES TO JAIL”

DVD widescreen, 2009, PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug content, some violence and sexual situations

Best extra: The featurette “Looking for the Big House”

AFTER HEAVY DRAMA “A Family That Preys,” Tyler Perry was ready to have fun, so he resurrected his sassy, elderly character, Madea, in “Madea Goes to Jail.” “I put that costume on and I think I just went crazy,” the writer, actor and director said.

Madea is sassier than ever here. Keshia Knight Pulliam, Derek Luke and others also star.

The DVD release takes us to the root of Madea’s latest run-in with the law.

In “Looking for the Big House,” Perry and producer Reuben Cannon take us on location at a Forrest Park, Ga. prison. Half of the facility was operational during the filming. “It was eerie,” Pulliam said. Set designers built a special jail cell on site for Madea.

“You Have the Right to Remain Silent!” features Madea’s arrest, a scene made possible by the Dekalb County Police Department. “I don’t know who was watching the city because we had half the police department out there,” Cannon said.

The DVD release also includes hilarious Madea footage, cast and crew interviews and a gut-wrenching dose of comedy from actor David Mann.

“GHOSTBUSTERS: 25^th ANNIVERISARY EDITION”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1984, PG for language

Best extra: A toss up between Blu-ray exclusives, "Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car" and "Making-of ‘Ghostbusters The Video Game’"

"GHOSTBUSTERS" IS A Blu-ray extravaganza. The movie is much clearer, although some grainy parts still exist and the movie’s monster looks silly running through Manhattan, but, overall it’s a must see in hi-def, especially for anyone who’s been watching it in constant reruns on TV.

Fans will particularly enjoy the exclusive Blu-ray extras including the restoration of Ecto-1 to promote the films’ video game. Watching Dan Akroyd (Ray Stanz) revel in its return by driving the 1959 Cadillac ambulance/hearse after all these years is a treat.

Also, a look at the making of Atari’s video game is fabulous. To see all the Ghostbusters come back, except Bill Murray (Peter Venkman) in this featurette, with Annie Potts (Janine) and William Atherton (Walter Peck), makes you want to play the game.

The Blu-ray also offers still photos of Ecto-1's restoration and the "Slimer Mode: Picture-in-Picture and Pop-up Trivia Track."

Viewers also get the standard-def features from previous DVD releases, including deleted scenes, 1984 making-of feature, a special effects featurette and commentary, minus the "Mystery Science Theater" feel of 1999, with Harold Ramis (writer, Egon Spengler), director Ivan Reitman and associate producer Joe Medjuck.

So who ya gonna call?

“FRIDAY THE 13TH: KILLER CUT”

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 2009, R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, language and drug material

Best extra: "Terror Trivia Track with Picture-in-Picture" footage while you watch

FOR THOSE OF us who remember being scared senseless by the original "Friday the 13th," anticipating this slasher flick’s release was palpable. Would director Marcus Nispel be able to resurrect one of the original psychopaths circa 1980?

Millions of people voted by buying a ticket to see 2009's "Friday the 13th," sending Nispel a message that his version thrilled. Some of us, though, remain hard-core purists of the original. 

Regardless, this Blu-ray is in-your-face gory. If you have friends who haven’t seen it, invite them over to watch it in high-definition just to listen to them scream and see them squirm. Also, there are two versions, the theatrical cut and the extended version – which runs about 10 minutes longer.

When you’re done, watch the myriad short bonus features in HD, such as exploring the rebirth of Jason, additional slashed scenes and BD Live components if you have your Blu-ray hooked up to the Internet.

"Hacking Back/Slashing Forward: Remembering the Groundbreaking Movie Original Movie" in high definition also is worth a watch for its walk down scary lane.

Finally, view the trivia track and picture-in-picture footage for a more comprehensive education of the motivation of the film’s principals, and a connect-the-dots story of the "Friday the 13th" franchise.

Blu-ray widescreen, 2004, PG for language and violence

Best extra: A 45-minute ESPN roundtable, hosted by Linda Cohen featuring goalie Jim Craig, winger Buzz Schneider, actor Kurt Russell and captain Mike Eruzione, reveals the European game plan and brutal conditioning behind the method of U.S. coach Herb Brooks’ madness.

Disney’s “Miracle” re-creates the greatest moment in hockey history – when a team of U.S. underdogs faced off against the U.S.S.R. machine at the Lake Placid Olympics.

The Blu-ray follows the monstrous casting call that drew 4,000 wannabes. Once director Gavin O’Connor had his 21-man team, the actors went through an intense five-week training camp to prepare them for “Herbie,” the exhausting wind sprints devised by coach Brooks.

A little background: After an embarrassing tie against Norway just before the Olympics, Brooks (Kurt Russell) had the team skate wind sprints for hours after the game. O’Connor took three days to film the sprints.

“I love you guys, but you’re going to hate me,” he says on one of the four documentaries carried-over from the previous DVD (all standard-def).

“We skated, our hearts out,” recalls Eric Peter-Kaiser who plays U.S. star Mark Johnson.

A commentary with cinematographer Daniel Stoloff, editor John Gilory and O’Connor offers plenty of stories to keep you interested.

The Blu-ray picture is top-notch, with plenty of natural film grain and no signs of digital noise reduction. While the color is spot-on matching the original source and an excellent contrast level producing deep blacks for a lively hi-def experience – far surpassing the multiplex or DVD. No worry the DTS HD soundtrack is even better; producing a powerful soundstage during those bone-crushing body checks, while the crowd cheers U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A…. There’s even a featurette on the high-impacted sound.

The disc also includes a 20-minute conversation between Brooks and Russell; it’s inspiring – especially since Brook died weeks before the premiere of the movie. 

The only thing missing from this “Rocky” story is footage from the memorable upset.

— Bill Kelley III

Best extra: The commentary track with creator/writer/director/exec. producer J.J. Abrams and co-writer/co-producer Damon Lindelof as Abrams stops the action of the two-part pilot and inter-cuts to behind-scene footage of the plane wreckage and finding the cockpit.

Best extra: A 30-minute standard-def documentary “Fire + Water: An Anatomy of an Episode” is an in-depth examination of the season’s best show – a flashback of Charlie’s life before flight 815.

FIVE YEARS AGO, “Lost” changed the face of television bridging the gap between traditional non-cinematic TV and the grandeur of the movies. It’s explosive, engaging and intriguing, featuring one of most mysterious plotlines ever for a TV series. And the critics loved it, as it racked up 21 Emmy nominations (winning six) during its first two seasons.

Now, you can relive those “Lost” moments (Season One & Season Two), following the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 on Blu-ray with a magnificent hi-def picture and uncompressed sound. It’s so sharp, you can count every single freckle on Evangeline Lilly’s (Kate Austen) face, while presenting rich colors and deep blacks from the wondrous vistas and beaches of Hawaii. Also, Disney provides a $20 rebate program for each season DVD owners want to upgrade.

The story goes ... ex-ABC president Lloyd Braun asked his top creative minds to pitch three ideas for the upcoming fall season. Storylines were bounding all over the room – until Braun suggested, “How about a castaway story?” First reaction, “a Tom Hanks guy, playing with a volleyball?” Then someone spoke up, “What would J.J. do?”

Wonder boy J.J. Abrams, creator/director of ABC’s hit series “Alias” and this summer’s blockbuster “Star Trek,” and writer Damon Lindelof were quickly recruited. Five days and 20-pages later the network had the makings of landmark series.

The first season includes more than a dozen standard-def documentaries breaking down the extraordinary cinematography, powerful musical score and unmatched writing.

The box set includes the audition tapes of the 14 main characters, deleted flashbacks, bloopers and commentaries on key episodes.

Season two includes 45-minutes of behind-scene footage and an amazing collection of Sawyer one liners that are bound to provide a chuckle or two. More featurettes uncover the “Mysteries, Theories and Conspiracies” and “Secrets from the Hatch” as Abrams details that particular brainstorming session. Also, five commentary tracks are spread throughout the season as conflicts continue between the survivors and “The Others.”

Both box sets include “Season Play,” the option to bookmark your last watch, so you can pick up right where you left off – even if you remove the disc from your player.

THIS HBO MINISERIES was nominated for dozens of awards and won lots of them in its category: Emmys for Outstanding Miniseries, Cinematography, Lead Actor (Paul Giamatti as John Adams), Lead Actress (Laura Linney as Abigail Adams), Art Direction, Costumes, Sound, Special Effects; Golden Globes for Best Miniseries, Actor Giamatti and Actress Linney, as well as others from the Art Directors Guild, Broadcast Film Critics Association and more.

This is great, riveting material and wonderfully produced. Adams might seem to be a historical footnote compared to colonial superstars like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. But he was one of the most passionate and hardworking supporters of America’s independence from Great Britain.

And if you think the fight between Revolutionary soldiers and King George’s troops was fierce, wait until you check the action between members of the First Continental Congress. Chances are you never saw anything like this in your high school history book.

HBO has been working the comeback campaign since the end of “The Sopranos.” With stimulating fare such as “John Adams,” they’re doing good. (My 17-year-old son, Patrick, thought this was fantastic.) Unfortunately, the 1080p/VC-1 transfer is not all it should be. Some moments shine with brilliant color, good blacks, and outstanding detail (great for those award-winning costumes). But these are contrasted with occasional muddy scenes and periodic odd, flat skin tones. Many hands must have stirred this pot.

Sound, however, is terrific. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround makes the most of dialogue, battles and mob scenes. The score with original music by Robert Lane and Joseph Vitareli, also shines.

Extras are carried over from the standard DVD, including episode recaps and a making-of in HD. Blu-ray exclusives, “Facts Are Stubborn Things” and “Who’s Who In History,” are actually enhanced fact tracks. These are pop-up interactive trivia experiences – just in case you lose track of who’s who or who did what. It’s helpful and interesting and no one will be grading as you reacquaint yourself with the Founding Fathers and their ladies.

Blu-ray widescreen and DVD widescreen, 1959, not rated

Best extra: Audio commentary by associate producer/second unit director George Stevens, Jr. and Millie Perkins (Anne Frank).

IF YOU WERE A movie-goer during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s – especially if you were young – it was difficult to distinguish between the heart wrenching drama of director George Stevens’ “Diary of Anne Frank” (1959) and Stanley Kramer’s “Judgment at Nuremberg (1961).” Both black and white films dealt with the Holocaust and left lifelong questions.

How could this have happened? A question we still ask.

Consider, too, that Anne Frank herself would be only 80-years-old – if she had survived – at the release of the 50^th anniversary of her filmed story, just stops you. The loss is staggering.

Stevens’ film evolves around two Jewish families who go into hiding to avoid being sent to a concentration camp. They exist for two years in a storage loft over an old factory. It’s here that teenage Anne (Millie Perkins) begins writing about her daily experiences, her observations and dreams.

The Blu-ray transfer is the best this film has looked in many years. Detail is sharp and black/white contrast is good, although not perfect. Still, viewers should still lose themselves in the story enough to overlook flaws. Purists who are used to today’s expansive soundtracks might be thrown off by the minimal audio. However, the dialogue comes through cleanly, as does Alfred Newman’s terrific score.

All extras are presented in standard-def, including several new features. Look for “George Stevens in World War II,” 16mm movies – some in color – shot by Stevens during WWII, including the liberation of Dachau. “The Making of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’: A Son’s Memories” provides George Stevens Jr.‘s memories of his father at work on the film. Other “memory” featurettes showcase Perkins, Dianne Baker and Shelley Winter (Best Actress in a Supporting Role). “Echoes of the Past” is a 90-minute history of the Franks contrasted against the film’s portrayals. Movietone News bulletins, trailers, art galleries help round out an excellent presentation.

“THE SIEGE”

Blu-ray widescreen, 1998, R for violence, language and brief nudity

Best extra: No extras?  What gives, Fox?  The 2007 "Martial Law Edition" on DVD has a commentary and nearly an hour of featurettes.  Where did they go?

WHEN “THE SIEGE” was released in 1998, it was an entertaining but far fetched cautionary tale that about a string of terrorist attacks in New York City that leads to Arabs being held in internment camps and martial law being declared. After 9/11, the film seems eerily prophetic and has taken on far greater power.

Denzel Washington's desperate plea to Bruce Willis not to torture a man is particularly haunting: "Bend the law, shred the Constitution just a little bit? Because if we torture him, General, we do that and everything we have fought, and bled, and died for is over. And they've won. They've already won!"

For fans, this Blu-ray is the best the film has looked since theaters. Detail is razor sharp, contrast is rock solid, and colors pop off the screen. The lossless audio track is excellent as well, with action playing out all over the soundstage, and crisp dialogue.

Although the film is given a solid presentation on Blu-ray, Fox dropping all of the extras is unforgivable and reason enough to avoid this release until another inevitable version comes along down the line.

— Josh Boone

“MURDOCH MYSTERIES”

DVD widescreen, 2008, unrated

Best extra: Interviews with the cast and Maureen Jennings, author of the books the series is based upon.

THE FIRST SEASON of this unusual Canadian TV detective series contains 13 episodes. It may take the first three of them to get into it, but by then, as the characters become more rounded and appealing, it’s easier to get past some of the contrivances.

Set in Toronto during the Victorian era, the plots revolve around the fact that this was the time when forensic science actually began to become a science. The appearance of real-life personalities like Arthur Conan Doyle, Nikola Tesla and Prince Alfred creates interesting plot twists, as Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), his younger sidekick, Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), and the lovely and very liberated police pathologist, Dr. Ogden (Helene Joy), solve one murder after another. Elements of the supernatural help with the solutions, seeing as Murdoch has some sort of very reliable ESP inspired by crime scenes.

Special features include a commentary, a behind-scenes photo gallery, and cast filmographies and bios. The filmed interviews allow each main character to discuss the “back story” they helped create. Bisson says he enjoys playing a character who is both “looking ahead” and “at odds with himself” over his strong religious convictions. Joy confesses she had a hard time handling the fake (and some real) viscera during fictional post mortems; and Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch books, expresses delight with the television version, especially the casting of Bisson.