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

Willy Wonka is, without a doubt, the Grimm's fairy tale of kid flicks. Off-kilter, disturbing, brutal, morbid, funny, and all the while teaching basic life lessons – Wonka has it all. And, finally, Warner has seen fit to give fans of this film the widescreen version of the film they deserve – replete with a gorgeously rich transfer that glows. What could make this all that much better? Why, special features, of course. So what do we get here? A brand new documentary with cast and crew interviews (including all of the kids and the elusive Gene Wilder), an audio commentary with all of the kids, 4 sing-along songs, the original 1971 making-of featurette, trailer, and a photo gallery.

(Fox, Rated PG-13, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

You know, my reaction while watching this abomination was not unlike the revelatory horror that Charlton Heston screamed about at the end of the "original" Planet of the Apes. I don't know what Burton was thinking, but making a good film was clearly far from his mind. I really don't know what more to say… Did I mention how misguided this whole affair is? It can never be said enough. The two-disc set contains an audio commentary with director Tim Burton and music composer Danny Elfman, trailers, an interactive behind-the-scenes feature, the HBO First Look documentary,  5 extended scenes, "Simian Academy" featurette, "Face Like A Monkey" featurette, "Costume Tests" featurette, "On Location In Lake Powell" featurette, "Chimp Symphony Op. 37" featurette, "Swinging From The Trees" featurette, makeup tests, a gallery of multi-angle features, music video, concept art, and a design gallery.

(MGM, Rated PG, DVD-$14.95 SRP)

For those who would seek to dismiss this film as empty-headed entertainment, all I can say is – "For shame". Not only is Bill & Ted a gem of a film, it is also one that has held up quite well over the years. While often overshadowed by Back to the Future, the time travel conceit used in Bill & Ted is actually a heck of a lot more fun, as the out-of-it high school students travel through time in order to assemble a veritable "dream team" of historic luminaries for a history project. As far as the DVD goes, to say that I am disappointed that the only special feature we get is a trailer would be an understatement. However, I can't say enough good things about how wonderful the 2.35 anamorphic widescreen picture looks. To say the film has never looked better would be an understatement, so kudos must go to MGM for delivering in spades visually.

(MGM, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Maybe it's the throwback nature to con films of the 1950's, or maybe it's the subversively charming performances from Michael Caine and Steve Martin, but Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a personal favorite of mine. How happy I was, then to see MGM actually re-release it (it had been available as a bare-bones disc from Image) as a special edition, replete with a commentary track from director Frank Oz. If that wasn't enough, there's also the original making-of featurette, trailer, and the teaser trailer (featuring footage not in the film) with a commentary from Oz.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$27.96 SRP)

"Whatever happened to John Carpenter?" I found myself asking that question almost constantly as I watched his latest effort – an overripe self-parody posing as a sci-fi horror flick. Was it the hammy acting? Maybe. Was it the cheeseball script? Possibly. Lousy make-up? Could be. I could go on all night, but Carpenter's tale of a demonic force holding a group of uneasy allies at bay on the dusty surface of Mars is just… dull. Now if we could only find the John Carpenter that made Big Trouble in Little China, I'd be able to sleep easier. The anamorphic DVD contains a commentary track with Carpenter and star Natasha Henstridge, "Video Diary: Red Desert Nights" featurette, "Scoring Ghosts Of Mars" featurette, special effects deconstructions, trailer, and filmographies.

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

Despite the fact that I do own an HDTV and a fancy little Progressive Scan DVD player, I'm still a bit leery of Columbia's Superbit titles – where all possible space is devoted to the picture quality of the film, sacrificing supplemental materials. After viewing this title (and Dracula), I can see where videophiles would be quite pleased with such a pristine image – it does show. Still, I do so love my special features, so Superbit is still a niche for me.

(New Line, Rated R, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

Filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell plays Hedwig – who was born a boy named Hansel and longs for the missing part of himself that he calls "the other half". Hedwig undergoes a sex change in order to marry an American GI and cross the Berlin Wall to freedom. Unfortunately, the operation goes wrong, leaving Hedwig with the title "inch". After being left alone and disillusioned in a Kansas trailer park, Hedwig decides to start a rock band – where she is betrayed yet again by a young protégé/lover. While it sounds like quite a heady brew, Hedwig is actually quite a fun, funny film about life, love, and the little personal discoveries along the way. For such an odd, interesting film, New Line has produced just as interestingly odd a DVD special edition. The anamorphic disc contains an audio commentary with the filmmakers (explaining a good deal of the genesis of the film while also being quite engaging), a brand new making-of documentary, deleted scenes, trailer, filmographies, and cast and crew bios.

(Universal, Rated PG-13, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

The most stunning thing about this second-sequel to the "venerable" reanimated dinosaurs franchise is that, well, it doesn't suck. In fact, it's quite good. Why? Because it has aclear knowledge of what's gone before, and realizes that it is essentially a B-movie – allowing itself to have fun. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary, a making-of featurette, "New dinosaurs of JPIII" featurette, a tour of Stan Winston's studio, a visit to ILM, dinosaur turntables, a behind-the-scenes montage, storyboard sequences, "JPIII" archives, finding new dinosaurs featurette, and theatrical trailers.

(New Line, Rated PG-13, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

Flipping the locale of the first film and making Chris Tucker a fish-out-of-water in China, this flick becomes the rarest of the rare – a smart, funny, sequel. What this film also allows is New Line to deliver another impressive Infinifilm release – to even list them is a chore. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Brett Ratner and writer Jeff Nathanson, the featurette "Making Magic Out of the Mire" (which offers a glimpse of Ratner's directing style), the "Fashion of Rush Hour 2" featurette (hosted by Jeremy Piven, which takes a hunerous look at the fashions of the film), the "Evolution of a Scene" featurette (analyzing the development of three sequences from the film), deleted scenes and (qute funny) outtakes, a deconstruction of the film's opening effects sequence with intro by Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin Lingenfelser, "Jackie Chan's Hong Kong Introduction" featurette (offering a Chan's-eye view of Hong Kong), "Culture Clash: east Meets West" documentary (comparing and contrasting Hollywood filmmaking and Hong Kong filmmaking), "Attaining International Stardom" featurette (a somewhat gratuitous look at how Tucker and Chan have become filmic gods since the original Rush Hour), "Kung-Fu Choreography" documentary (perhaps the most interesting piece on the disc, offering a Jackie Chan hosted look at martial arts and public perception), and – finally – Brett Ratner's student film "Lady Luck" (who said it's not good to be the king?). See… I told you this thing was packed… And, thankfully, it's worth it.

(Dimension, Rated R, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I'm going to admit something that I've admitted to very few people – I liked the first Scary Movie. Was it high art? Most assuredly not, but it was a raunchy, over-the-top sucker punch that struck at just the right moment – a zeitgeist flick. Where the first flick was clever and fresh, the sequel is, unfortunately, strained and annoying. In trying so hard to be *funny*, it completely undercuts the very elements that made the original so enjoyable. The anamorphic DVD contains a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted and alternate scenes, a special effects tour, a "Behind the makeup" featurette, and a still gallery.

(Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP)

Some call David Lynch's offbeat TV series a masterpiece. Some think it's a weird oddity. Regardless, it was an interesting exercise in stretching the limits of the TV form, paving the way for series as different as NYPD Blue to The X-Files. Thankfully, fans of the show can now revel in this 4-disc box set that collects the entirety of the first season (sans the pilot episode, which is mired in rights issues). In addition, there are a couple of commentaries from the episode directors, new interviews with the cast & crew, optional Log Lady intros, and rare archival material.

(Dreamworks, Rated PG-13, VHS-Priced For Rental, DVD-$26.99 SRP)

It's usually when a film wants desperately to be something that it falls squarely on its… well, you know what. Evolution desperately wants to be Ghostbusters – in writing, in tone, in characters, in structure, in gags… Everything. What is it, then? Well, it's not bad. However, it's far from what it attempts to ape, under the guidance of producer/director Ivan Reitman (of Ghostbusters fame – surprise, surprise). Just swap out the ghosts for rapidly evolving extraterrestrial creatures, and the Ghostbusters for a team consisting of David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore, and Seann William Scott. Harmless? Yes. Fun? Somewhat. Great? No. The anamorphic DVD contains a commentary with Scott, Reitman, Jones, and Duchovny, 8 deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, an effects featurette, and a trailer.