And now, our first annual Halloween video picks. First up is the remake of Cat People (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP), starring Natassia Kinski and Malcolm McDowell, and directed by Paul Schrader. Not a great flick, but fun nonetheless, and the DVD is packed with an audio commentary with Schrader, an "On the Set" featurette, a featurette on the make-up effects, matte paintings, a featurette with Robert Wise on Val Lewton (the original Cat People's producer), "Cat People: An Intimate Portrait" by Paul Schrader, and the theatrical trailer. If you're in the mood for some good ol' fashioned schlock, there're the camp classics 976-EVIL (Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$19.95 SRP) and Brotherhood of Satan (Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG, DVD-$24.95 SRP). EVIL is directed by Robert Englund (and it's just as over-the-top as one would hope). Or heck, delve back into Zombie-land with the recently released special edition of Return of the Living Dead (MGM/UA, Rated R, DVD-$14.95 SRP) - replete with an audio commentary with writer/director Dan O'Bannon and production designer William Stout, a "Designing the Dead" featurette, conceptual art, TV Spots, and trailer). In the mood for a Wes Craven classic? Plunk down your cash on The Last House on the Left (MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$14.95 SRP), featuring an audio commentary with Craven and Sean Cunningham, a featurette, outtakes and dailies, "forbidden footage", and the film's trailer. How about the recent release of two of the lesser Friday the 13^th outings, Parts VII & VIII - The New Blood & Jason Takes Manhattan (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$24.99 SRP) just for giggles? If you're more into "classic" horror, try The Return of the Vampire (Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) or the double feature of Curse of the Demon/Night of the Demon (Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP). Return of the Vampire even features Lugosi in the title role. Ah, but what if you're an Anglophile and Hammer Horror is your cup of tea? Look no further than The Revenge of Frankenstein (Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), where you'll find Peter Cushing reprising his role as Baron Victor Frankenstein from the Hammer classic The Curse of Frankenstein. Oh yeah… remember that goofy Nic Cage vampire pic Vampire's Kiss (MGM/UA, Rated R, DVD-$14.95 SRP)? Even that fun little oddity is on DVD now… and if that doesn't blow your mind, it even has an audio commentary with Cage and director Robert Bierman. Just remember that… There's no commentary on Captain Correlli's Mandolin… But Cage is front-and-center on Vampire's Kiss.

(Miramax, Rated R, DVD-$19.99 SRP)

If the Lord of the Rings has gotten you stoked to check out some of director Peter Jackson's earlier work, you can't go wrong picking up a copy of this flick. It's the true life story of two incredibly bright and imaginative teenage schoolgirls (Kate Winslet & Melanie Lynsky) who create a rather powerful fantasy world for themselves – a world that frightens their parents, who threaten to tear them apart. In retaliation, the girls plot murder… and I won't give any more away. Check it out. This uncut version contains the original theatrical trailer.

(Criterion, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

A Hitchcock love story is nothing to shake a stick at, as evidenced by this classic tale of psychoanalysis, attraction, and suspense, starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. The dream sequence (by surrealist Salvidor Dali) is worth the price of admission alone. Criterion has fashioned a fitting special edition for a great film, which includes an audio commentary by Hitchcock scholar Marian Keane, an illustrated essay on the Salvador Dali dream sequence by James Bigwood, the complete 1948 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation starring Joseph Cotton and Alida Valli, essays by Hitchcock scholars, excerpts from a 1973 interview with composer Miklos Rozsa, a gallery of hundreds of photos and documents on the film's production, and the film's trailer.

(Big Idea, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP each)

From the makers of the VeggieTales comes a brand new computer animated series that is actually better in many respects than its predecessor (and VeggieTales was pretty darn good to begin with). This go round, the main characters are a team of adventuring super penguins (which is cool enough in and of itself) – and kids learn a lesson along the way. While I'm not a fan of overt religious overtones, one can't help but enjoy the character design, writing, and voice work on these stories. Two volumes have been released ("Trouble On Planet Wait-Your-Turn" and "The Cheating Scales Of Bullamanka") and both contain an audio commentary with the penguins, a "how to draw the penguins" featurette, concept art, penguin progression reel, activities, bios, recipes, games, karaoke, storybook, hidden Easter eggs, and trailers.

(Universal, Rated R, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

I don't know about you, but one of the longest waits I've had to endure is the wait for Brotherhood of the Wolf to finally hit DVD. Coming seemingly from out of nowhere, Brotherhood was one of the few breaths of fresh air in this otherwise dreary film year. I'm not going to ruin the story – hopefully its tale of two unlikely heroes called up to fight a mysterious evil ravaging the countryside will be just as much a surprise for you as it was for me. So pick it up… you won't be sorry. The anamorphic DVD contains deleted scenes, cast & crew bios, production notes, and trailer.

(Warner Bros, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

This is easily one of the most under-appreciated Stephen King adaptations out there. Maybe it's because it strings together a few of his short stories… Ok… Ok… Maybe it's that lackluster section with a young Drew Barrymore and the freaky little midget creature in her bedroom. Still, there are two excellent adaptations in there – "Quitter's Inc." (about a rather hard-handed approach to helping people stop smoking) and "The Ledge" (about an extreme way to get back at a man cheating with your girlfriend). The anamorphic print is also pretty darn good, considering the awful prints that have run on cable for years. And who'd have thought we'd also get an audio commentary with the director, Lewis Teague?

(Warner Bros, Rated G, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

It's always nice to revisit those cinematic treasures of youth and find that stands up to the test of adulthood. One of those films I really dug as a kid proved to be just as fun as I remembered when I popped it in the player, and it stars none other than Don Knotts. The Incredible Mr. Limpet is an odd fish to describe. Henry Limpet (Knotts) wants to serve his country during World War II, but he can't pass the Navy physical. During a trip to Coney Island, Henry gets his wish when he's turned into a… fish. He soon becomes the Navy's secret undersea weapon – and no, I'm not kidding. It's fun film that's well worth rediscovering, or discovering it for the first time. The anamorphic DVD contains an all-new intro from Knotts, a vintage featurette, and trailer.

(Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Who says a malevolent creature masquerading in clown form, menacing the residents of a small New England town, can't be a nifty little diversion? Obviously, no one told Stephen King that, because It went on to become a bestseller – and the miniseries adaptation of it ain't too shabby, either. Tim Curry plays the titular creature It, a monster who once terrorized the youngsters in the aforementioned small town. Thirty years later, It reappears – deadlier than ever – and a group of now-grown friends (including Harry Anderson and John Ritter) must confront the evil lurking in the sewers. This DVD collects the entire miniseries and presents it in anamorphic widescreen (which looks pretty snazzy), and also includes an audio commentary (with stars Dennis Christopher, Tim Reid, John Ritter, Richard Thomas, and director Tommy Lee Wallace). Now if only Tim Curry would dress in the same outfit while playing Mr. French on the Family Affair remake…

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

A Dickens classic, yes, but this tale of wealth and poverty – and their inherent injustices – became a monumental, 9-hour stage adaptation in 1980, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Brilliantly acted, it's the best attempt I've yet seen in bringing the work to life. Nine hours is a long haul for any program, but this is definitely worth it. Spanning four discs, there's even an added bonus - the Charles Dickens episode of Biography. What more could you ask for?

(Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

For some reason many people out there liked the Scorpion King. Personally, I thought it was Conan-lite, and a poor use of The Rock to boot… and I won't even mention the cinematography or writing. Still, many of you like this… thing… so I'm sure you'll be snapping up this release, which is jam-packed with bonus features. The anamorphic DVD contains an extended version of the film in enhanced viewing mode, an audio commentary with The Rock, outtakes, alternate versions of key scenes, a making-of, "The Fight Scenes: The process of shooting a fight sequence" featurette, "Working With Animals" featurette,  Godsmack's "I Stand Alone" music video, and a first look at The Rock's feature film "Helldorado".

(Warner Bros, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

A prisoner will often mark the days to their release. Sadly enough, DVD fans perform a similar behavior when it comes to awaiting the release of favorite films on this digital format we've come to love. One of those films, for me, has been Strange Brew. It's time to throw out the calendar, though, because it has finally arrived. It's not as packed with features as I had been hoping for (no commentary track, none of those recent Molsen ads), but there are a few things that make it a very nice disc. First of all, it's anamorphic (thank you, Warner!). As far as bonus features go, there's the original SCTV "Mouse in a Beer Bottle" sketch, a brand new McKenzie Brothers animated short subject (meant as a sales pitch for a series), and the original theatrical trailer. Not a bad haul, really…

(Touchstone, Rated R, DVD-$19.99 SRP)

Alive continues to be an amazing tale of survival in horrible adverse conditions, mixed with the disquieting nature of how those 16 men were able to survive 72 days on that snowy mountainside in the Andes. To mark the 30 ^th anniversary of that terrible ordeal, a special edition of the film adaptation has been released on DVD. It's a movie that still, to this day, contains one of the most harrowing crash sequences ever shot on celluloid. The anamorphic DVD contains an introduction to the film by director Frank Marshall, "Alive: 20 Years Later" documentary, and "Return To The Andes" featurette.

(Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

As far as the "Modern Disney Classics" go, Beauty and the Beast has aged the most poorly – which is not to say that I don't like it. I mean, seriously, it's very hard to hate anything that Howard Ashman and Alan Menken had a hand in. Their musical contributions to this film, as well as Little Mermaid and Aladdin, defined the golden age of recent Disney (before the dark days set in after Lion King). That said, the story doesn't retain nearly enough of the zing I once remember, and the pacing falls a bit flat, but it's nice to have it on DVD regardless –and as a deluxe special edition (part of Disney's Platinum line) to boot. The 2-disc set features three versions of the film: the Special Edition (created for the IMAX presentation and including the bonus song "Human Again"), the Original Theatrical Version, and a Work-In-Progress (with unfinished animation and storyboards). There's also an audio commentary (only on the Special Edition, with producer Don Hahn, directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, and special guest star Alan Menken), a  sing-along track, Maurice's Invention Workshop game, "The Story Behind The Story; A Tale As Old As Time" documentary (over 50 minutes long and wonderfully done), a character profile game, a feature on the Broadway musical, Disney's animation magic, Chip's musical challenge game, "Beauty And The Beast" music video by Jump 5 (ugh), "Break The Spell" adventure game, an early presentation reel, "Be Our Guest" alternate version (which is sung to Maurice instead of Belle, with introduction), "Human Again" deleted song (with introduction), "The Transformation" alternate score (with introduction from Menken),  original demo recordings (with introduction by Menken), art and design gallery, character galleries, "The Transformation" pencil tests, animation tests, layouts and background gallery, a camera move test, poster and ad design, trailers and TV spots, and the IMAX trailer. Whew!

(Touchstone, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Big Trouble is based on best-selling author Dave Barry's novel of the same name… and I can only assume that the novel must be – has to be – better than the flick. Director Barry Sonnenfeld tries to recapture some of the zest he brought to Get Shorty – large ensemble cast (check), odd story (check), quick pace (check)… But whereas Shorty was a great flick that was better than the sum of its parts, Big Trouble is torn apart by its sheer schizophrenic weight. The short of the story is a whole bunch of people chasing after each other in Miami and something about mob hitmen (Dennis Farina & Jack Kehler) and teenage love (Ben Foster & Zooey Deschanel) and two cops (Patrick Warburton & Janeane Garofalo) and an arms dealer (Stanley Tucci) and his wife (Renee Russo) and two idiotic thieves (Tom Sizemore & Johnny Knoxville) a nuclear bomb and a hallucinagenic toad and a Martha Stewart dog and a writer played by Tim Allen. And a whole bunch more, but my head hurts. In a bitter irony, one of the supplements on the disc is called "5 Minute Movie", and what it does is compress the film (down to 7:50, actually)… Sadly, this compressed version plays infinitely better than the full feature. The anamorphic DVD also contains a commentary from Sonnenfeld in which, to my disappointment, he does not apologize for the film.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

The only disappointment in this retrospective highlighting truly hilarious bloopers from the legendary Carol Burnett Show (which aired last year on CBS) is that it's just so gosh darn *short*. At only 42 minutes, it's not nearly long enough. Not only were the clips fun, but the interaction of Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, and Vicki Lawrence (reunited on stage to present said clips) shows that they still have chemistry in spades.

There's nothing like a weekend filled with classic dance flicks to make you feel… well… I really don't know. They're kitschy, they're (for the most part) naïve, and it's like stepping into the Twilight Zone. By far the most serious and well made of the bunch is Saturday Night Fever (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$24.99 SRP), which actually focuses more on dance as an escape mechanism for the disappointing life of a troubled youth Tony Manero (John Travolta). The special edition DVD contains an audio commentary with director John Badham, 3 deleted scenes, and highlights from VH1's Behind The Music special. If you want a good laugh, then check out the Sylvester Stallone directed abomination of a sequel, Staying Alive (Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$24.99 SRP). And yes, it's worth seeing *because* it's so bad. Really. Then you can launch into one of the early Simpson/Bruckheimer collaborations, Flashdance  (Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$24.99 SRP) – containing one of the most parodied scenes in 80's cinema, the infamous sitting in a chair water bucket splash down after furious dancing scene. Last, but certainly not least, is a personal fave from the Reagan 80's, Footloose (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Ah yes, the tale of how dancing saved the youth of a puritanical town from the wrath of their hellfire preacher, John Lithgow. And their savior? Why, Kevin Bacon, of course! Ah… The 80's…

(Central Park Media, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most haunting – and often difficult to watch – films I think I've ever seen. It's also a beautiful work of art, which made it that much more difficult to turn away from the screen during those difficult stretches. What made it so difficult? The story is about two orphaned Japanese children and their desperate attempt to retain some semblance of childhood innocence during the Allied bombing of Japan in World War II. The animation is as breathtaking as the story is devastating… To attempt to describe it any further would not do it justice – so watch it for yourselves. The anamorphic 2-disc set contains alternate angle storyboards, trailers, interviews (with director Isao Takahata, author Akiyuki Nosaka, and Roger Ebert), a historical perspective (with commentary by Professor Theodore F. Cook and Professor Haruko Taya Cook), a video restoration documentary, and an art gallery.

(Warner Bros, Rated PG, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

You know, there's a perverse pleasure in watching a film that is so outrageously, unbelievably, stunningly bad that it transcends its pitiful script, wasted actors, and dismal direction to become something of wretched beauty. That's just about the best description I can think of after viewing the train wreck that is the wrongheaded live action Scooby-Doo flick. I won't go so far as to say, "it's so bad, it's good" –because it's not. I will say that you can't take your eyes off of it, and – if for no other reason – you should check it out and marvel at the Hollywood machine gone loco. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with the filmmakers, an audio commentary with the cast (Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Freddie Prinze, Jr., and Sarah Michelle Gellar), deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary, "Land Of a Million Drums" music video, trailer, and featurettes.

(Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP)

This is simply one of the finest documentaries about the life and career of Walt Disney that I could have ever hoped for. It's is an exhaustive portrait of the man, crafted through recollections of friends, family, and employees, copious amounts of rare home movies, and footage of the animated and live action classics that have made him a legend. What was perhaps the most surprising element is just unflinching and candid the whole affair is, even dealing with accusations of racism and anti-semitism (both false), and his testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. In a pleasant surprise, it's also presented in anamorphic widescreen. As far as supplements go, the disc is packed with over an hour of bonus interviews, home movies, featurettes and behind-the-scenes footage. Simply put, this is something that should not be missed.

(Warner Bros, Rated R, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

Imagine trying to solve a murder case in one of the most unique – and physically devastating – environments on earth. The unique part is the phenomena of the "Midnight Sun" in northern latitudes (in this case, Alaska), and the devastating part comes from the effect 24 hours of perpetual sunlight has on a person's internal body clock – in essence, it renders sleep a difficult proposition, leading to a certain type of madness mixed with tremendous exhaustion. It is under these circumstances that veteran LAPD homicide detective Will Dormer attempts to solve a murder case in Christopher Nolan's beautifully executed flick. Robin Williams turns in a fine, darkly dramatic performance (better realized than One Hour Photo) as the object of Dormer's pursuit. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Nolan, an audio commentary with Hilary Swank and filmmakers (production designer Nathan Crowley, editor Dody Dorn, cinematographer Wally Pfister, and screenwriter Hillary Seitz), "180 Degrees: Christopher Nolan Interviews Al Pacino" featurette, "Day For Night: The Making of Insomnia" documentary, "In The Fog" cinematography featurette with DP Wally Pfsiter, "Eyes Wide Open" featurette on insomnia, gallery, additional/extended scene with optional director's commentary, and the theatrical trailer.

(Touchstone, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Three rowdy college students (Michael Rosenbaum, Harland Williams, Barry Watson) are thrown out of their dorm, forcing them to seek housing elsewhere. The idea they arrive at (in a Bosom Buddies moment) is to dress as girls and get into a sorority known for housing… umm… not-so-attractive women (a sorority house known affectionately as DOG). That's the premise for this amiable comedy that is better than it deserves to be… And believe me, that is a powerful compliment if you look at that premise again. The anamorphic DVD contains "Boys Will Be Boys" behind-the-scenes featurette and the "All the Angles" multi-filmmaker points of view (an interesting feature that attaches mini-cameras to various crewmembers to get their perspective on the production process) .

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.96 SRP)

I've said it before and I'll say it again – it's always nice to be surprised by a film that you have no expectations for, and such was the case with the latest Adam Sandler pic, Mr. Deeds. I was not a big fan of Sandler's earlier, more sophomoric work (Happy Gilmore), but I did enjoy both Big Daddy and The Wedding Singer (as well as The Waterboy and Little Nicky, to a lesser extent). Still, I never considered myself overly eager to see his next offering. So yes, it was a pleasant surprise that this remake of a Frank Capra classic, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, turned out to be as touching – and funny – as it did. The short of the story is this – insanely rich man dies, heir is sought, he's found in a small rural town, he's an incredibly likeable guy, he journeys to the big city and falls in love, and the head of the company intends to swindle him out of his controlling stake. That's pretty much the gist of it. Winona Ryder puts in a fine performance as the love interest (who may betray our protagonist) and Peter Gallagher is nicely greasy as the villain. In the end, though, the film is held together by Sandler's performance as Deeds… and a wonderful job it is. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Steven Brill and writer Tim Herlihy, a making-of featurette, a costuming featurette, a production design featurette, outtakes, music video, trailers, and Deeds' Greeting Cards.

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

After the high of Wrath of Khan, there was no way – in my mind – that Search for Spock would top its predecessor. And it didn't. But it does come pretty damn close. All of the elements are there… the adventure, the classic characters, the drama, and strong villains to rally against (led by Christopher Lloyd's wonderful Klingon, Kruge). My only real issue with the film is the sometimes clunky-looking stage work on the Genesis planet. Still, it's a treat to dig into the special edition DVD release of this flick, which follows the same pattern as the wonderful work done on The Motion Picture and Khan re-releases. The two-disc set contains an audio commentary (with Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin Curtis), a text commentary by the authors of the "Star Trek Encyclopedia" (Michael and Denise Okuda), "Captain's Log" making-of documentary, "Space Docks And Birds Of Prey" featurette, "Speaking Klingon" featurette, "Klingon And Vulcan Costumes" featurette, "Terraforming And Prime Directive" featurette, storyboards, photos, and the theatrical trailer. There's even a fun little easter egg to be found. Now hurry up and give me a Star Trek V Director's Cut.

If you're yearning for a taste of some classic pictures done right by DVD, then you might want to check out a trio of snazzy special edition re-releases – all boasting remastered picture and sound. First up are two John Wayne classics – The Quiet Man (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) and Rio Grande (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Quiet Man contains an audio commentary with star Maureen O'Hara, "The Joy Of Ireland" documentary hosted by Maureen O'Hara, a scene montage, a making-of documentary hosted by Leonard Maltin, and trailers. Rio Grande contains an audio commentary with Maureen O'Hara, "Along The Rio Grande With Maureen O'Hara" documentary, "The Making Of Rio Grande" documentary hosted by Leonard Maltin, and trailers. Last up is a venerated (and rightly so) Gary Cooper classic, High Noon (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). The special edition contains an audio commentary (with Maria Cooper-Janis, Jonathan Foreman, Tim Zinnemann, John Ritter, and David Crosby), "The Making Of High Noon" documentary hosted by Leonard Maltin, a never-before-seen "Behind High Noon" documentary, and trailers. If that's not enough quality for ya, then you've got some thinkin' to do.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

Few people under the age of 30 know that Batman creator Bob Kane developed a cartoon in the early 1960's. What may or may not be a surprise is that the cartoon was a parody of his famous creation – only this time it's the team of Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse. All of the elements are here – the car, the hi-tech weaponry, the rogues gallery… With a cat and a mouse. Sure, the animation ain't too great (calling it "limited" would be giving it too much credit), but there's a charm there, that's for sure. What's stunning is that this 4 disc box-set contains all 130 episodes. Yes… 130. Very cool.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

It really doesn't take much to be better than the original film version of Lathe of Heaven – a flick that has the unique distinction of putting to sleep repeatedly in the course of trying to slog through it, Fortunately, the adaptation of Ursula K. Leguin's classic work of science fiction this go round features excellent performances from James Caan, Lukas Haas, Lisa Bonet, and David Strathairn (a personal fave) and a script that keeps the viewer interested (in stark contrast to its predecessor). The anamorphic DVD contains a making-of featurette and deleted footage.

(Walt Disney, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

No matter how hard it tries, The Santa Clause will not replace A Christmas Story as a holiday classic (and really, what film can?). Still, it's an affable Tim Allen vehicle that the family can enjoy – unlike Jingle All the Way. Just in time for the holidays (and the sequel), Disney is putting out this deluxe special edition (be sure to get the anamorphic widescreen version) that contains "The Making Of The Santa Clause" featurette from an Elf's perspective, Holiday recipes, "Fly Santa's Sled" set-top game, and DVD-ROM "Letter To Santa" feature with automated replies.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

Even more than two decades after its premiere, this 10-part epic miniseries is still a wonder to behold. Not only is it well-produced and well-acted, but it carries of its story – about the defeat of the British Empire at the hands of an African prince that united warring tribes – with style and an engrossing weight. See, this is when people knew how to do miniseries… well, non-Danielle Steele miniseries, anyway. The 4-disc set contains interviews and stills.