(Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

I'm not a fan of film's with a heavy religious overtone, but I did enjoy the rather open-minded take on faith contained in Bruce Almighty (which reminded me of another genially religious flick, Oh God!). Mostly, it's just an excuse for Jim Carrey to play up his comedic strengths as Bruce Nolan – a man who believes nothing in his life goes right. He loses the promotion to head anchor he's been hoping for, his dog has a urination problem (namely he just can't seem to do it anywhere but inside), and he barely notices the support his girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston) tries to provide. Fired after an on-air breakdown and at the end of his emotional rope, he screams to the heavens that God just isn't cutting it. Taking him up on the challenge, God grants him his powers to see if he can do any better. If you smell a lesson coming, you're not wrong. Still, as I said, it's funny and genial enough, if a little heavy-handed towards the end. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Tom Shadyac, deleted scenes with optional commentary, "Inside the Creative Mind of Jim Carrey" featurette, and a gag reel.

(Pioneer, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Saying that the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre never looked better is not too terribly high a compliment, considering how cheaply it was made almost 30 years ago. The new special edition DVD manages to present it in its best light, along with a bevy of bonus features including an audio commentary, deleted scenes, trailers, TV spots, photos, and (I kid you not) a blooper reel.

(Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP)

Although it has been criticized for being an agenda-driven show (it's a political drama, so it's inevitable that it would reflect the sensibilities of its creator), the first season of The West Wing was actually an even-handed – and incredibly gripping – piece of television. Before the show's plotlines (and stars) became unwieldy, there was a lean, mean quality to the storytelling in the beginning. Sure, there were big issues – gun control, war between Pakistan and India, Iraq, the Supreme Court, and natural disasters, to name a few – but like any lasting TV show, at the end of the day it's all about the characters, and the Bartlett administration is full of them. Bonus features include audio commentaries on select episodes (by Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, Alex Graves, and Christopher Misiano), making-of documentaries and behind-the-scenes segments, deleted scenes, and more.

(Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$69.99 SRP)

The adventures of Jennifer Garner's double agent, Sydney Bristow, continue to chug along with the release of Alias: The Complete Second Season. Like a latter-day Mission Impossible, Sydney's globe-hopping adventures are filled with more intrigue, thrills, suspense, and surprises than you can shake a really big stick at. The 6-disc contains all 22 episodes in anamorphic widescreen, plus audio commentaries, deleted scenes, the making of "The Telling", "The Look of Alias" featurette, KROQ radio interviews, blooper reel, TV spots, and the making of the video game. 

(Fox, Rated R, DVD-$99.99 SRP)

If you've got a hankering to overdose on Fox's Alien franchise, then the Alien: Quadrilogy box set is the perfect holiday gift for you. Spanning nine discs, the set contains two versions of all 4 films – both a remastered director's cut and the original theatrical cut (all of which have audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, storyboard galleries, and more) – plus a bonus 9 ^th disc with the brand new "Alien Evolution" documentary and a Ridley Scott Q&A. The sound and visual quality across the board easily trumps the old Alien box set released a few years back.

(Warner Bros., Not Rated DVD-$26.99 SRP)

Even limited to 13 episodes and a swift cancellation, The Ben Stiller Show managed to make an impact – launching the on-camera careers of Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick, and Bob Odenkirk and expanding the limits of what sketch comedy on TV could be (the ultimate end result would be the legendary Mr. Show, starring Odenkirk and Stiller writer David Cross). All 13 episodes are contained in this 2-disc set, with features including audio commentaries on select episodes, unaired sketches, alternate versions of the pilot, two parodies made for the MTV version of the show, outtakes, and the E! Behind the Scenes Special.

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$14.99 SRP)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby had, up until 1974, been a tough nut to crack cinematically. Something about capturing the subtleties of his Jazz Age romance between the nouveau riche Jay Gatsby (Robert Redford) and the spoiled girl he still longs for (Mia Farrow) just seemed to evade filmmakers for decades. But then a workable script from Francis Coppola, stars Redford and Farrow, and director Nelson Riddle all came into alignment, and the result was a film that worked – wonderfully. The DVD may be bare bones, but the film is worth seeing.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP)

Hud is another one of those films that should be on your DVD shelf. Starring Paul Newman as a rebellious son in constant struggle against the unmet expectations of his aging father (a role which garnered Newman an Oscar nomination) and directed by Martin Ritt (Sounder, Norma Rae), it's a bleak but powerful slice of Shakespearean Americana. The disc is featureless, but the anamorphic print is good enough for me.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

It took awhile for me to get onboard The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, Jamie Kennedy's 21^st century take on Candid Camera which casts an often heavily-make-up'd Kennedy as the chief con in each stunt. Once I caught a few episodes, I found myself enjoying the stunts. It's not highbrow, mind you, but it's a good laugh all the same. The Complete First Season contains 17 episodes across 3 discs, plus audio commentary by Kennedy on select episodes, an introduction from Kennedy, a featurette with the creators of the series, and alternate marks.

(Walt Disney, PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I know I wasn't alone in cringing every time I saw or heard anything about the impending release of Pirates of the Caribbean. I mean, here was a flick produced by Jerry Bruckheimer based on an amusement park ride. And just so you would go into complete mental overload, it was also starring Johnny Depp. How could that possibly work? Well, either through some netherworld pact or a massive fluke, work it did – both creatively and financially. It's every bit the amusement ride of its source material, but it takes a perverse glee in reveling in its schlock roots, and Depp's swishy pirate protagonist befits the over-the-top execution of the entire affair. The 2-disc set contains deleted and alternate scenes, multiple audio commentaries (including Depp!), a blooper reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes, galleries, and much more booty to… er… boot.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$139.99 SRP)

Viewing the complete run of Deep Space Nine while Enterprise continues its creative flame out on the small screen has provided a most fascinating means of comparing a show that works and one that doesn't. Through its 7 seasons, DS9 managed to tell an epic story that interwove war, politics, religion, and the most basic of human interactions in a magnificent tapestry that rarely misstepped. It also managed to juggle scores of major and minor characters, making each one that entered frame into a vital element of the story no matter the duration of their time upon the stage. The Dominion War, the machinations of the Prophets, the hidden secrets of the Federation, and characters you CARED ABOUT. Enterprise, in almost 3 full seasons, has managed to capture none of this. Comparing Enterprise's bumbling attempts at cranking up the tension via Season 3's "Xindi" arc are laughable when compared to Season 7 of DS9. Anyone who considers Enterprise to be on the right track owes themselves the wake-up call viewing the entirety of DS9 will afford them. It's epiphany time people. The 7-disc set contains 4 featurettes ("Ending An Era," "Crew Dossier: Benjamin Sisko," "Crew Dossier: Jake Sisko," and "The Last Goodbyes"), 9 "Hidden File" mini-featurettes, and a photo gallery.

(MGM/UA, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

William Friedkin's always been an erratic director, but when he's on his game, it often results in a classic. Such is the case with To Live and Die in LA , which finds a federal agent (William Petersen) resorting to any means necessary in order to take down a murderous counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe). A riveting, explosive tale of revenge and obsession, pick it up and give it a spin. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Friedkin, a deleted scene and alternate ending, a making-of documentary, photo gallery, and the original theatrical trailer.

(Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$14.99 SRP)

It's certainly not part of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon, but Young Sherlock Holmes shouldn't be too terribly upsetting to fans of the great detective. The film presents a scenario wherein the first meeting of Holmes and his loyal Watson was not during "A Study in Scarlett," but instead while both were attending the same boarding school. When murders begin to pile up in London, the budding detective and his newfound friend set out to solve the unsolvable in true Holmes fashion. All in all, it's a fun romp and a nice little alternate reality.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$28.95 SRP)

After the abomination that was Pearl Harbor, I feared I'd have to forever blacklist Michael Bay as a competent filmmaker. His re-teaming with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence for the deliriously over the top Bad Boys II restored my faith in him. The anamorphic DVD contains deleted scenes, production diaries, a visual effects featurette, a stunt work featurette, a music video, and a sequence breakdown.

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

For all the nightmares that went on behind the scenes of the second Project Greenlight entry, The Battle of Shaker Heights , it's no Stolen Summer. I mean that as the most supreme of compliments. Shaker Heights is actually an amiable, often funny, not-too-terribly awkward film that features a memorable performance from Shia LaBeouf. Now why didn't thy release it with the entire Project Greenlight: Season 2?

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

Slowly but surely, Buffy fans are approaching the completion of the series' release on DVD. Even though they've had Season 6 in their hands for almost a year in the UK, we're just now getting Season 5 - the year of Dawn, Glory, and Buffy's go-bye-bye. Oh yeah – the UK also got this season in anamorphic widescreen (I still don't care what you say, Joss, I like it better that way). Bonus features this go round include commentaries (on "Real Me," "Fool For Love," "I Was Made to Love You," and "The Body"), featurettes ("Buffy Abroad," "Demonology - A Slayer's Guide," "Casting Buffy," "Action Heroes! - The stunts of Buffy," "The Story of Season 5," "Natural Causes," and "Spotlight on Dawn"), still gallery, outtakes, and scripts.

(Artisan, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

When I was in middle school, I remember the disturbing giddiness with which my female classmates and friends latched on to Dirty Dancing. It's not a bad film (not really my cup of tea), but what could possibly provoke such utter madness? I still don't know, but you can conduct your own research with the 2-disc Ultimate Dirty Dancing special edition, packed with bonus features galore. They've even released a remastered and resequenced (to match the film) edition of the soundtrack. Go forth and find the answer, readers.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP)

I know there are some diehards out there, but I never enjoyed Joss Whedon's ill-fated (and short-lived) TV space opera Firefly. It attempted to present an anachronistic future that relied heavily on the often awkward camera techniques of the old spaghetti westerns, with characters that were difficult to like and a mission that was nebulous at best. Sadly, the show was neither fish nor fowl, and suffered from the creative burnout that eventually led the final season of Buffy to a disappointing end. Still, I know there are fans out there, and you'll be happy with the entire 14 episode run, uncut and presented in anamorphic widescreen, on the 4-disc Firefly: The Complete Series set. There's also commentary on select episodes ("Serenity," "The Train Job," "Shindig," "Out of Gas," "War Stories," "The Message," and "Objects in Space"), 3 behind-the-scenes featurettes, 4 deleted scenes, a gag reel, audition tapes, and even Joss singing the show's theme song.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$26.96 SRP)

There are some films that are entertainingly bad (Battlefield Earth), there are some films that ate laughably bad (Plan 9), and there are some films that are bad bad (Saving Silverman). But then there is the painfully bad, and it is into that rarified category that Gigli has earned a place of dishonor. Everything about this film is painful. Thank you for bringing us yet another instant classic, Revolution! The DVD contains absolutely no bonus features… Not even an apology.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

I would have thought that they would have dropped the ball by now, but A&E's adaptations of the Horatio Hornblower series continue to chug along with no ball dropping in sight. The latest DVD set, Horatio Hornblower: The New Adventures, features two new features – "Loyalty" and "Duty" – which find Hornblower (Ioan Gruffud) in command as the winds of war begin to kick up, as well as tackling the ultimate war, marriage, before shipping back into the fight. The main bonus material come in the form of audio commentaries for both outings.

(New Line, Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.95 SRP)

I'll admit it… I have a soft spot for Mandy Moore. Sure, her films tend to be treacly  piles of mush, but all is forgiven when she walks onto screen. How to Deal follows the basic mold: girl feels she'll never find love, then girl finds love. Okay, so it's a little more complicated than that, but that's the gist. Check out the film for yourself. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Moore, 4 featurettes, and deleted scenes.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

Watching the 5^th Season of M*A*S*H is like saying goodbye to an old friend. If you're wondering why, then you're not well-versed in the show. The fifth season was the last that featured Larry Linville's Maj. Frank Burns. After the departure of that character, the show plunged headlong into the mawkish, preachy morass that would continue until the end. Sad, really. As usual, the DVD allows the option to turn off the laugh track.

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

The commentary quotient on the second season of Dawson's Creek has been significantly increased from the first, which goes quite a long way towards compensating for the altered music cues (much of which was far too expensive to clear for the DVD release). As to the quality of the show… Well, fans dig it, so I'm not going to criticize.

(MGM/UA, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

Like many, I was disappointed by the bare bones release of Escape From New York on DVD a few years back. Where was the audio commentary with director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell? Where was the documentary? Where was the infamous "bank robbery" opening? Well, the new 2-disc edition of Escape  rectifies the situation all those accounts, even adding in a commentary with producer Debra Hill. Finally!

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

When I heard they were remaking Freaky Friday, I was worried. Disney has not had a glorious history of remaking their family classics ( That Darn Cat, anyone?). And it was going to star Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother who switches bodies with her daughter (Lindsey Lohan). Jamie Lee Curtis should not be allowed to grow old. We need to enact legislation. But you know what? This was a decent flick, and Curtis was still hot. Yup – you heard me. She hasn't lost it. The anamorphic DVD contains alternate endings, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, blooper reel, and music videos.

(Fox, Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.98 SRP)

If you're in the mood to see Sean Connery's evil twin at work (seen previously in Zardoz, Highlander 2, and The Avengers ), check out the laughably bad adaptation of Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary, and "special" introduction, deleted scenes, and a behind-the-scenes featurette (where the director is nowhere to be seen – smart man).

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

So what do you do when you've made a few Rugrats films and a Wild Thornberrys movie? Combine the two, of course! What you get is Rugrats Go Wild, which manages to be a fun little flick despite its overtly commercial nature. The DVD contains deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a game demo.

(Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

I hate Tobey Maguire. As an actor, it's like his face has time-release botox just under the skin, numbing his performances into a dull, monotonous stupor (Elijah Wood is the thespian yin to his yang). Because of costars Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper, I actually enjoyed Seabiscuit, based on the true story of the underdog prize-winning horse and his equally underdog jockey (Maguire). Go figure. It's got a score by Randy Newman, too… Maybe that's what suckered me in. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Gary Ross and Steven Soderbergh, featurettes, a scene deconstruction, and a making-of documentary. For the proper historical context, check out Seabiscuit: The Lost Documentary (Hart Sharp, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP), which was made in 1939 by Seabiscuit's owner, Charles Howard.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.95 SRP)

Within the mini-commentaries contained on the South Park: The Complete Third Season, Trey Parker and Matt Stone mention how much they dislike the show's second season, feeling it wasn't up to snuff. Despite being produced during the same mind-numbingly busy period that spawned the South Park film, they feel the third season is much stronger, and I have to agree. The humor has gone from funny to sublime, often dipping into the kind of surreality that would serve the show quite well in later seasons. The third season went from "Rainforest Shmainforest" to "Worldwide Recorder Concert", and included such gems as "Chinpoko Mon" and "Starvin' Marvin in Space." Sorely missed in the season 2 set were audio commentaries from Trey and Matt, and as I mentioned, they're back this time to do "mini-commentaries" on all 17 episodes (basically 3-4 minutes on each episode, until they decide they've said everything that needs to be said). Beggars can't be choosers, and this is a heck of a lot better than nothing.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$99.99 SRP)

Just when you thought you were out, A&E pulls you back in with Danger Man: The Complete First Season. Starring Patrick McGoohan's as a thinking man's spy who only uses violence as a last resort, this show would eventually morph into Secret Agent. This 5 disc set collects the 39 black & white episodes that comprised the first season, remastered and presented in their original UK broadcast order. As far as supplements go, it's limited to a McGoohan bio/filmography and a photo gallery.

(New Video, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

My Knees Were Jumping is an incredibly powerful, incredibly poignant documentary about the Kindertransports. On the eve of World War II, as Germany's persecution of the Jews reached a fever pitch that would soon culminate in the movement of millions into concentration camps, many countries turned their backs. Only Britain opened its doors, allowing the influx of over 10,000 children in the "Kindertransport" movement. Most of those children never saw their parents again. Interweaving firsthand accounts and archival footage, it's a living document of a little light during the bleakest of times.

(New Video, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

Bikini Atoll was once a peaceful little topical island nestled in the Pacific. For over 40 years, though, it was an uninhabitable radiological hotbed. The reason? This tiny little island was once a central testing point for the American military's nuclear program. These tests, conducted in 1946, were witnessed by American servicemen and island natives - all of whom were assured there was nothing to fear as they were doused with incredible levels of radiation. Through archival footage and firsthand accounts, this Cold War story unfolds in Radio Bikini, and it's a disturbingly surreal – but all to real – tale.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

Just when you thought it was over, A&E manages to unearth yet another Gerry Anderson supermarionation series. However, I'm pretty sure The Secret Service is the last. Father Unwin appears to be a typical parish priest, but he's also the inventor of a device capable of miniaturizing people. When the government learns of this device, the recruit Unwin into a secret program, team him with one of their top agents, and set them off on some incredibly dangerous missions. While not as action-packed as Thunderbirds, this is probably Anderson's most mature show. The 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes, plus audio commentary on the pilot and "Secret Confessions with Special Agent Matthew Harding".

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG-13, DVD-$28.95 SRP)

Who knew a modern take on S.W.A.T. (meaning it has zero to do with the original series) would prove to be a damn good time? This has been a year filled with pleasant surprises (Pirates of the Caribbean), and this action pic is one of them – as a pair of rookie cops (Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J) team up with a pair of veterans (Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell) to transport a drug kingpin who offers a $1000 reward to anyone who can free him. The anamorphic DVD contains 2 audio commentaries, deleted scenes, "'Sound & Fury of S.W.A.T." featurette, "Anatomy of a Shoot Out" featurette, "6^th Street Bridge" featurette, and "The Making of S.W.A.T. featurette", a gag reel, and filmographies.