Probably one of the most honored epics on recent television, HBO's mini-series Band of Brothers was produced by the powerhouse team of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. It won the Golden Globe for Best Mini-series and is nominated for 19 Emmys. The 6-disc DVD set comes in an embossed metallic case. It has an extraordinary amount of information in addition to the 10-part true-life story of the men of Easy Company in the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. To start with, it contains the documentary "We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company," which interviews the real men of Easy Company as they tell their stories, inner-cut with film footage and rare and archival photos. Also included is a making-of feature on the mini-series, actor Ron Livingston's video diary that shows behind-the-scenes footage from the actor's perspective, and a featurette of the screening on the beaches of Normandy. There is also an optional enhanced viewing "Field Guide," which extensively references people, places and events connected to Easy Company and their campaign through Europe and WWII as a whole. Additionally included are character bios, web-links to the Band of Brothers living memorial, as well as other pertinent sites, a still photo gallery, episodic previews and scene selection menus. The DVD is released in widescreen only with a 16:9 aspect ratio from High Definition digital masters, the audio is DTS English and 5.1 Surround as well as English, French and Spanish Dolby Surround. Spanish subtitles and English closed-captioning is also included. This is a must-own DVD set, especially for history buffs and collectors of World War II information.

The vengeful Bride returns to cross a few more names off of her rapidly shortening list in Miramax Home Entertainment's release of Kill Bill Vol. 2, and though it feels like only a precursor to the inevitable feature-packed release that will follow soon after, this release does offer a few choice gems in addition to a solid presentation of the feature attraction. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the image offers even skin tones, solid blacks, and vivid colors. Though the occasional intrusion of edge-enhancement may prove somewhat distracting to some viewers, the overall commendable visual presentation is generally solid. Audiophiles will be happy to note the inclusion of both an English-language Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 track, both of which are accompanied by closed captioning and provide a rich, full-bodied listening experience without any notable distortion or hiss. In addition to an alternate French-language audio track, Miramax has also seen fit to include optional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish subtitles. Of course, fans of both Kill Bill films are no doubt aware of Miramax's plans to release them at first separately and then with a super deluxe combo package following at some point in the near future, and though the extra materials provided on this disc are indeed satisfying, they do seem more like an appetizer than a hearty meal. A three-and-a-half-minute deleted scene in which Bill faces off against a vengeful gang of thugs whose boss he previously killed finds Tarantino's Shaw Brothers fanaticism in full effect. A 25-minute behind-the-scenes segment offers interviews with Tarantino, Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, and David Carradine in which they discuss the appeal of the characters and the manner in which Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 compliment one another. Though those looking for in-depth details regarding the production may walk away with a slight pang of disappointment, viewers simply looking for a little fun will surely enjoy the featurette. Rounding things out is a solid performance by Chingon at the Kill Bill Vol. 2 premiere, in which the band (featuring director Robert Rodriguez on guitar) strums one of the tunes from the film's soundtrack.