New A & E/The History Channel DVD Releases for February

Great New Releases from A & E and The History Channel Home Video:

Amelia Earhart: Queen of the Air, debuts Feb. 2nd.

Providing an unforgettable look at the life and legend of the courageous and groundbreaking aviator.  This compelling portrait is scheduled for takeoff February 2, being released day-and-date with Mira Nair’s theatrical bio-pic, starring Hilary Swank.

A daredevil of unimaginable proportions, Amelia Earhart was destined to make her mark on history. Even as she was wowing the world by annihilating existing aviation records, her unconventional short hair, pants, and leather jacket had already made her an undisputed icon. Her mysterious disappearance while attempting to fly around the world has long been at the center of great debate. But what really happened to one of the world’s most promising aviators?

The People Speak, debuts Feb. 23rd.

Presenting history through speeches, letters and music performed by today’s most talented voices, this stirring HISTORY™ program pays homage to ordinary citizens whose words and actions commanded extraordinary change in America. Using dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans, THE PEOPLE SPEAK gives voice to those who spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history, forging a nation from the bottom up with their insistence on equality and justice.  From executive producers Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Chris Moore, and Anthony Arnove, this special presentation – one of the Network’s most highly-anticipated programs of 2009 – is based on historian Howard Zinn’s best-selling books, including “The People’s History of the United States” and “Voices of a People’s History”, it arrives on DVD in a special edition featuring 25 minutes of never-before-aired footage and a wealth of exclusive bonus material, including additional performances, a photo gallery and more.

Narrated by Zinn himself, this groundbreaking doc illustrates the relevance of these passionate historical moments to our society today, reminding us that democracy is not a spectator sport and to never take liberty for granted.  A journey from the founding of this country to the civil rights movement and beyond, THE PEOPLE SPEAK uses star power to celebrate democracy and was a labor of love for many an A-lister: Matt Damon reads from The Declaration of Independence; Bruce Springsteen performs Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”; while other accomplished performers, including Morgan Freeman, Marisa Tomei, Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, Kerry Washington, Bob Dylan and Eddie Vedder lend their voices to help re-create the emotional impact of these moments in history.

The Universe: The Complete Season 4, on Blu-Ray and DVD, Feb. 23.

Using stunning HD graphics and packed with authentic NASA footage, THE UNIVERSE returns in SEASON FOUR to transport home viewers past the wonders of our own solar system and out to the bizarre far-flung reaches of the cosmos. From death stars to ringed planets, star clusters to space wars, THE UNIVERSE: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR on DVD and BLU-RAY uses new discoveries and more advanced CGI to help explain the mysteries of outer space.

These special edition sets feature all 12 episodes from SEASON FOUR plus special “Ask the Universe” segments in which the series’ most popular experts answer viewers’ questions.  Examine which elements from popular sci-fi movies could really exist – from the ice moon of Endor to wormholes and transporters.  Discover how the universe is awash in all sorts of strange liquids, from oceans of methane to blobs of alcohol floating in space, and even iron rain. And watch and marvel as experts cook up ten ways to destroy the Earth, including blowing it up with anti-matter, hurling it into the Sun, and colliding with another galaxy in this top-rated #1-selling HISTORY™ franchise.

Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey: The Complete Season One, on DVD, Feb. 23rd.

Get hands-on with some of the world’s fiercest firearms as Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE takes viewers on a fascinating ride through the pathology of a featured weapon: where it came from, who thought of it, who improved it, its victories, its defeats, its impact on history and where it is now.

In each episode of this HISTORY™ series, Gunnery Sergeant, drill instructor, Vietnam veteran, actor and former Mail Call host R. Lee Ermey will look at the inner workings of a weapon that made battlefield history, from machine guns and tanks, to pistols and rockets. Special high-speed photography and advanced 3D graphics detail the improvements, changes in technology and thinking behind each weapon, providing a deep understanding of how the weapon has developed throughout history, from its humble, often cumbersome and even awkward beginnings, to its sheer power and precision today. It’s an enthralling tour through the origins, evolution, and innovations of weapons, as Ermey delivers the story with, literally, one finger on the trigger.

To buy any of these DVDs click here.