(Criterion, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP)

The only thing better than a regular Criterion DVD release is when it's a Criterion boxset. In many cases, the sheer amount of quality bonus features – coupled with the long-established attention to quality picture and sound restoration – can sometimes cause a bit of information overload. Nowhere is that more evident than in the ultimate Francois Truffaut collection – The Adventures of Antoine Doinel. The character of Antoine Doinel (first introduced in The 400 Blows) was Truffaut's greatest creation – a melancholic romantic and inveterate troublemaker. This boxset chronicles Doinel from his troubled teens through adulthood (marriage, children, and divorce). The films included are The 400 Blows (the original Criterion DVD release has long been out of print and highly sought after by collectors), Antoine and Colette, Stolen Kisses, Bed and Board, and Love on the Run. In addition to an impressively thick booklet (containing essays and photos), bonus features include interviews, archival materials, documentaries, newsreel footage, trailers, and much more. I never thought a Criterion set would surpass their excellent Brazil set, but this release has done it. Maybe they'll go back and revisit Brazil with an anamorphic transfer (one can only hope).

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated G, DVD-$9.95 SRP)

Seeking to capitalize on its unexpected Oscar win, we get the official DVD release of the computer-animated (and very funny) alien short The Chubb Chubbs!… running a total of 5 minutes and 36 seconds.

(Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Elephant Parts gets its name from the old saw about the blind men encountering an elephant – each one examined a different part of the massive beast, and drew their own widely varied conclusions as to what the animal looked like based on their own personal perspective. Michael Nesmith's groundbreaking video is much the same, allowing each viewer to draw their own conclusions about the widely varied – and incredibly unique - audio/visual experience. It's not too difficult, in viewing the mixture of nascent music videos and comedy bits, to place Elephant Parts in its proper context as the fertile crescent that would give rise to MTV (Nesmith was one of the creators of the pop juggernaut). The DVD contains an audio commentary with Nesmith and a production still gallery.

(Win Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Whereas the Same Guys, New Dresses DVD focused on the behind-the-scenes machinations behind the Kids in the Hall reunion tour, Tour of Duty is a recording of one of a concert during their most recent tour (and thus ends my use of the word "tour" in this review). There are some classic bits (the Seuss Bible was a pleasant surprise) as well as some new material, and overall the Kids are in fine form. My only gripe is that the audio levels aren't as good as they could be. The DVD contains backstage & tour bus footage, as well as a few additional scenes.

(Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP)

Mom. Apple Pie. And after 13 million years on the air, we'll probably have to add Law & Order to the list of American institutions. It seems like it's always been around, doesn't it? At the time it premiered, combining both the law enforcement and judicial stories of a single crime into an hour of television seemed like an odd idea, but it turned out to be a pretty entertaining - and durable – one. This box set collects all 22 first season episodes (starring a cast that is wholly unfamiliar to current viewers) across 6 discs. Bonus features consist solely of an interview with series creator Dick Wolf.

(Kino, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

The fully restored DVD of Friz Lang's Metropolis has been a long – and I do mean LONG – time coming. As street dates were continually pushed back, I began to despair of ever seeing the extensive restoration work done to this seminal sci-fi flick. Finally, it's here. Was the wait worth it? You betcha! The films have never looked this good (I'd say it even looks better than it did when it first ran in theaters). The picture is sharp and clean, and over a third more footage has been added back into the film. In addition, the original film score has been added, so the experience is very much like it must have been when a live orchestra would have played in theaters to the silent film. Bonus features include an audio commentary; "The Digital Restoration" featurette, galleries, cast & crew bios, and a 43-minute making-of documentary.

(Warner Bros, Rated PG, $19.98 SRP)

There are films that I was exposed to so often as a kid that they've become personal film classics… Sort of like sentimental Citizen Kanes. One such flick is a certain John Cusack picture from 1986 – One Crazy Summer. A lot of you out there are going, "Isn't that the one with Bobcat Goldthwait, the animated interludes with the killer bunnies and the lovelorn rhino, a boat race against snobs, a Godzilla attack, a lobster-filled pool, and Demi Moore pre-surgery?" And I would reply, "You're damn right!" I am (mostly) unashamedly in love with this movie – because it's still a surreal comedy that I must have seen 15 dozen times on HBO and TBS. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary (with stars Curtis Armstrong, Bobcat Goldthwait, and writer/director "Savage" Steve Holland).

Canadians are weird. There, I've said it. It would be easy to dismiss them on that basis alone if not for a particular factor that comes coupled with that weirdness – they're funny. Nowhere is that weirdness and humor more evident than in a decidedly unique Canadian import that has become increasingly popular here in the States (via PBS) – Red Green. Red Green is the creation of comedian Steve Smith, and is a character who invents things… like a windmill powered boat, a barcalounger driven van, or a truly extended truck… all created with the aid of Green's utility tool par excellence – duct tape. And yes, the show is pretty damn funny. You can experience the show via the first volume of episodes, Red Green: Stuffed and Mounted 1 (Acorn Media, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), or experience the madness in widescreen with Red Green's Duct Tape Forever (Acorn Media, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP). Stuffed and Mounted contains new introductions from Smith, while Duct tape Forever contains a 60-minute mockumentary "Red Green Goes Hollywood", commentary with Smith, behind-the-scenes interview, a photo gallery, and the theatrical trailer. Yes, you've got to see it to believe it… what will those wacky Canadians think of next?

(Acorn Media, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

The concept of The Reduced Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of William Shakespeare is brilliant – take the entirety of the Bard's works and distill it down into the span of 90 minutes. They're all there – Romeo & Juliet, the tragedies, a rap Othello, the histories, and a huge Hamlet finale (forwards and backwards). Perhaps the most brilliant segment is the condensing of Shakespeare's comedies into a single five-minute piece (titled "The Comedy of Two Well-Measured Gentlemen Lost in the Merry Wives of Venice on a Midsummer's Twelfth Night in Winter"). The DVD contains an audio commentary with performer/writer Adam Long and director Paul Kafno, a commentary with performers Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, rare footage of an early RSC performance, and cast bios.

(Criterion, Rated R, DVD-$39.95 SRP)

Quiet American mathematician David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) moves to the English countryside with his English wife, seeking peace, quiet, and tranquility. What Sumner finds instead is a savage brutality he could never have imagined, testing his manhood and the very ideas of masculinity and violence. Straw Dogs is Sam Peckinpah's strikes a brilliantly guttural balance between art and schlock – a thinking man's bloodfest, made all the more impactful through Hoffman's performance. The anamorphic 2-disc set contains an audio Commentary with film scholar Stephen Prince, an isolated music and effects track, the 82-minute "Sam Peckinpah: Man Of Iron" documentary, the 26-minute "On Location: Dustin Hoffman" featurette, behind-the-scenes footage, video interviews with Susan George and producer Daniel Melnick, select correspondence from Peckinpah to critics and viewers, theatrical trailers and TV spots, an interview with Peckinpah from 1974, and an essay by poet Joshua Clover.

(Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP)

Continuing my mid-80's childhood nostalgia kick, there's the second half of the Transformers second season. The 4-disc box set covers the last 25 episodes of this season, and they tend to be some of the series' most diverse before the onset of Season 3's darker tone. The highlight episode for me is probably Starscream's ejection from the Decepticons and creation of the Combaticons in "Starscream's Brigade", but that's just because Starscream has always been my favorite. Considering the rather poor state of animation in the 80's, Rhino's done an admirable job presenting the best visuals and audio possible, and bonus features include interviews with two of the show's writers, Flint Dille & Buzz Dixon.

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

Treasure Island was the first live action film Walt Disney produced, and it still holds up as one of his finest. With fully restored picture and sound (and its original uncut theatrical length) this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of pirates, treasure, and young Jim Hawkins should definitely be experienced.

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

At first glance, one might think they're seeing a retread of Mr. Chips or Dead Poet's Society. Yes, there is quite a bit of the "dedicated teacher who loves his students and lessons with a passion" thing going, but there are differences aplenty. Kevin Kline plays the teacher in question, William Hundert -  a manic classics professor whose love of Ancient Rome is passionately taught to his students at an exclusive boy's prep school. Eventually, a rather haughty son of a Senator enters his class, and is completely uninterested – much to Hundert's chagrin. The film reminded me heavily of Mr. Holland's Opus – a personal fave – and shares the same bittersweet look at the teaching profession. The anamorphic DVD contains a making-of featurette, an audio commentary with director Michael Hoffman, deleted scenes with optional commentary, and the original theatrical trailer.

(National Geographic, Not rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Everest: 50 Years on the Mountain chronicles the journey up the mountain of Edmund Hillary's two sons, as well as the son of the first American to scale the mountain. Not only does the program follow the trio up to the summit, but it also chronicles the dramatic – and often tragic – history of Everest, as well as the unsung yet pivotal role of the Sherpas of Tibet. The DVD also contains a bonus program and a map of Everest.

(Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

While the Incredible Hulk TV movies never lived up to the quality of the original series, watching them now provides a wonderfully kitsch viewing experience, because they're just so gosh-darned goofy. What makes them so goofy? Well, as the 2-disc collection illustrates, they key lies in the guest stars. The Incredible Hulk Returns features Thor, and The Trial of the Incredible Hulk features Daredevil… and in both cases, the guest heroes are pulled of so badly that one can't help but find the end product endearing. This set also features an interview with Lou Ferrigno, an interview with Stan Lee, still galleries, the 84 minute "Stand Tall" documentary featuring Ferrigno, and talent bios.

(Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.99 SRP each)

In an age where studios are increasingly revisiting their original DVD releases and re-releasing them as souped-up special editions, it was only a matter of time before Paramount got around to the Jack Ryan films (originally released as non-anamorphic, bare bones discs). So now we've got The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games , and Clear and Present Danger with snazzy anamorphic remasters with bonus features. Red October contains an audio commentary with director John McTiernan, the newly produced "Beneath the Surface" making-of featurette, and the theatrical trailer. Patriot Games contains the brand new "Patriot Games Up Close" making-of featurette and the original theatrical trailer. Finally, Clear and Present Danger contains the brand new "Behind the Danger" making-of featurette and the original theatrical trailer.

(MTI Video, Rated R, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

Jane (Kim Little) has a tenuous grasp of reality. Her life revolves around television, so much so that she imagines the host of the Springer-like "Gerry" (David L. Lander) to be her long-lost father. Leaving her overprotective mother (Alley Mills) behind, she begins her quest the only way she knows how – to become odd enough to qualify as one of Gerry's guests. A hilarious independent comedy that has to be seen to be believed. The DVD contains a director & actor commentary, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews, trailers, and games.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

You can either agree or disagree with his output, but Larry Flynt's legal drive to protect his right to free speech proved a boon for Americans. His rather… colorful… life, loves, trials and tribulations are nicely illuminated in this biopic from Milos Forman, starring Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Ed Norton. Although it's been available on DVD for quite awhile, it has just been re-released as a special edition, complete with an audio commentary with director Milos Forman and writer Larry Karaszewski, an audio commentary with actors Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love and Ed Norton, deleted scenes, and a making-of featurette.

You know, there's some kind of deep truth to be found in my various attempts to purchase bits of my childhood… but I'm far too blinded by pop culture to even venture the deep thought required to uncover whatever deep truth is to be found. So instead, I'm going to go completely  (and sadly) giddy over a trio of Scooby-Doo releases on DVD. Scooby-Doo's Greatest Mysteries (Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) collects 4 classic episodes chosen by the fans ("A Clue For Scooby-Doo", "Hassle in the Castle", "Jeepers, It's the Creeper", and "The Backstage Rage"). Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is one of the lesser longform efforts – it's got Scrappy, after all – but it's Scooby, so all's forgiven. The piece de resistance… the cream of the crop… the DVD par excellence is Scooby-Doo Meets the Harlem Globetrotters (Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). I remember watching both of the adventures contained on this disc ("The Loch Ness Mess" & "The Mystery of Haunted Island") on Saturday mornings, lying on the floor with a bowl of sugar-coated something or another. So yes, I'm buying back my childhood… and you know you are, too.

(Warner Bros, Rated R, DVD-$27.98 SRP)

Audiences generally stayed away from this flick, but as a sequel it's actually quite good. DeNiro is back as mental mobster Paul Vitti, who is released into the care of his therapist, Dr. Sobel (Billy Crystal). The tables are turned this time, as Vitti finds an angst-ridden Sobel, who has recently inherited his family's practice. The anamorphic DVD contains a commentary with director Harold Ramis, a making-of featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

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

Alongside Transformers, GI Joe filled many an afterschool afternoon of mine during the 80's. And oh yes – they also drained massive amounts of cash from my parents, fueling my desire to have Cobra Commander and Starscream team up against Megatron. Rhino has continued their devious plan of re-releasing all of my favorite cartoons on DVD with GI Joe: A Real American Hero. This two-disc set contains the two 5-part miniseries which launched the show ("A Real American Hero" & "The Revenge of Cobra") with fully remastered picture and sound. They even look better than Rhino's recent Transformers releases. Special features include brand-new interviews with writers Marv Wolfman and Ron Friedman. I can only hope the series proper makes its DVD debut in the near future. For a limited time, the box-set also comes packaged with a limited edition Snake-Eyes figure. It even has all of his accessories – right down to the timber wolf.

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

Manhattan dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) is a man in over his head. His daughter is about to marry, and the father of his future son-in-law, Vincent Ricardo (Peter Falk), may or may not be an agent for the CIA. Sheldon gets caught up in Vincent's madness in a madcap series of events that begin on the streets of New York but soon land our mild-mannered dentist in front of a Central American firing squad. Make sure you see the classic original before partaking of the recent remake. The anamorphic DVD contains – now get this – and audio commentary with Arkin, Falk, director Arthur Hiller, and writer Andrew Bergman. Can you believe it?

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

Comedian documents the return to stand-up comedy of one Jerry Seinfeld. Remember him? After retiring all his old bits a few years back, a newly unsure Seinfeld tours the small comedy clubs of America trying to hone a brand new act and prove to himself that he still has chops. One would think that such an incredibly wealthy man would not be as insecure as Jerry comes across in this documentary, but that's just one of the small mysteries of this piece. The other is Orny Adams, an up-and-coming comedian who is also featured. Adams' ego seems to know no bounds, but it's clear that it's merely a blustery front hiding a profoundly insecure person – and insecurity seems to be the overriding thread amongst all the comedian featured (which includes cameos by Chris Rock, Colin Quinn, Bill Cosby, Ray Romano, and Garry Shandling). The DVD also includes two audio commentaries (with Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, the director, and the producer), deleted scenes, interviews, an exclusive Jiminy Glick interview, David Letterman appearances, and a "Where Is Orny Now?" featurette.

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

Sadly, few people saw Equilibrium when it was in theaters. Happily, they can all rectify the situation by picking up a copy of one of the most unique films to come down the pike in recent memory. In the future, literature, music, and art – all the things that elicit emotion – are outlawed, all in an attempt to curtail war and maintain peace. Emotions are blocked via the use of an emotion-blocking drug, enforced by an elite police squad. Things begin to fall apart, however, when the top enforcer (Christian Bale) misses a dose, opening his eyes to a future that isn't quite what it seems. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Kurt Wimmer, an audio commentary with Wimmer and producer Lucas Foster, and the "Finding Equilibrium" featurette.

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

When you sit down to view a Rob Schneider flick, you generally don't expect a grand adventure of art and intellect. The Hot Chick continues Schneider's fine tradition of brainlessly amusing entertainment – cotton candy at its finest. Jessica Spencer is the most popular girl in high school, with the attitude to match. Her horrible nature results in an even more horrible curse, as she trades bodies with a lowlife male (Rob, of course). Now she must convince her friends that she really is who she used to be, while trying to reclaim her true body. Can you imagine a more wretched curse? The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Tom Brady, "The Hot Chick Yearbook: A Behind The Scenes Look At The Film And The Characters", deleted scenes, and the Zed music video "Starlight".

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

Although many have criticized The Jeffersons for too often relying on racial humor, I have to respectfully disagree. As evidenced clearly in the show's second season, it's simply a downright funny character comedy. Blowhard George Jefferson is a truly iconic American stereotype – full of bluster, ego, and insecurity, but also a heart. Backed up by his wife Louise ("Weezi!"), neighbor couple The Willis's, daffy Brit neighbor Mr. Bentley, and especially "sassy" firebrand maid Florence (Marla Gibb), this is a show that continues to age well.

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

The Mission – even 17 years after its release – remains a powerful epic, sadly overlooked by many viewers in recent years. It's story teams a warrior (Robert DeNiro) and a man of God (Jeremy Irons) against brutal colonial powers bent on subjugating a South American Indian tribe. Beautifully realized on the screen, it's a film well worth discovering for the first time, or rediscovering. The 2-disc special edition contains an audio commentary with director Roland Joffe, "Making Of The Mission" documentary, and the theatrical trailer.

(Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$89.95 SRP)

I remember watching the mid-80's reruns of The Monkees on a relatively new cable network named MTV. Of course, for awhile there, I also wanted to be Mike Nesmith – wool cap and all. At one time, as a kid, I also wanted to be Radar O'Reilly from M*A*S*H . What my thing is for wool caps, I don't know. Anyway, I really dug The Monkees TV show. It was funny, it was surreal, the music was great, and the guys were like latter-day Marx Bros. Watching the 32 first season episodes on the six-disc The Monkees: Season 1 box set brought all those memories back, and go a long way towards showing why the pre-fab four took off like they did in mid-60's America. Sure, they were a rip-off of The Beatles – but they were a damn good rip-off, whose songs (written by Tin Pan Alley gods like Boyce & Hart, Neil Diamond, and even Harry Nilsson) were pretty dang catchy in their own right. The DVD set also contains audio commentaries on select episodes (by director James Frawley, creator Robert Rafelson, songwriter Bobby Hart, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith), 16mm version of the pilot episode, vintage commercials, interviews, and a memorabilia gallery. Even the packaging is cool – it's constructed to look like a classic records player, right down to the spring-loaded cardboard turntable which holds the discs.

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

Say what you will about Leonardo Dicaprio the celebrity, but Leo the actor was a powerful force during his younger days. Two of those performances stand out – What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and This Boy's Life. Based on a true story (that of author Toby Wolff), Leo stars as Toby – a rebellious teen pitted against his draconian new stepfather (Robert De Niro) in a sometimes violent coming-of-age drama. Here's hoping Leo can find his way back to the powerful character roles that defined his early career.

(Fox, Not Rated, $149.98 SRP)

It must be the completionist in me. Long past the show's Sell By date, I continue to look forward to these X-Files DVD sets. The latest is The Complete Seventh Season, and over the course of its 22 episodes, you could literally see the once-great series come apart at the seams, as the bloated mythology began crush the life out of the show. It was also David Duchovney's last season, but by this point you could see how disinterested he was in continuing on. Still, there's that nagging completionist that keeps me coming around to these sets – which isn't to say there aren't a few episodes that exhibit the old spark… The Ricky Jay magic episode in particular. Rationalizing the completionist urge is also made a bit easier when one considers the amount of fine supplemental material that Fox packs onto these discs, and this season is no slouch in that department. The 6-disc set includes international clips, deleted scenes, an audio commentary with Chris Carter on the episode "First Person Shooter", commentary with Gillian Anderson on "All Things", commentary with Vince Gilligan on "Je Souhaite", the 30 minute "The Truth About Season 7" documentary, "The X-Files Profiles" featurettes, 2 TV spots, and 13 special effects featurettes with commentary by Paul Rabwin. And yes – I'm even looking forward to the lackluster final seasons. Bad, bad little completionist.

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

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea was a groundbreaking film in its day – not only for its special effects, but also for its use of underwater photography. This adaptation of Jules Verne's novel pushed the Walt Disney Company to the very limit of its financial resources, almost derailing the construction of Disneyland. Luckily, it was a huge smash at the box office. The true centerpiece of the film - surpassing even Nemo's sub, The Nautilus – is the topside battle with the giant squid, as a massive storm churns the sea and lighting illuminates the creature's deadly tentacles. Even after almost 50 years, the scene is a powerful piece of effects work, acting, direction, and editing. The 2-disc special edition DVD contains a snazzy anamorphic print, an audio commentary with director Richard Fleischer, an audio commentary with film historian Rudy Behlmer, original 1954 theatrical radio spots, Peter Lorre's ADR tracks, Captain Nemo's organ music, the 90-minute "The Making Of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" documentary, "Jules Verne & Walt Disney - Explorers Of The Imagination" featurette, storyboard-to-screen comparison, unused animation, "The Humbolt Squid: Real Sea Monster" featurette, "Touring The Nautilus" featurette,  "Monsters Of The Deep" segment from the Disneyland TV show, 1954 Disney Studio Album, "The Musical Legacy Of Paul Smith" featurette, "Lost Treasure: The Sunset Squid Sequence" featurette, "Nemo's Death" script excerpt, "Grand Canyonscope" animated short, and the original theatrical trailer.

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

25^th Hour is one of Spike Lee's best films in years. Drug dealer Monty Brogan (Ed Norton) is headed to jail in 24 hours, and will spend the next 7 years there. In the span of his last day as a free man, he seeks to repair the frayed threads of his life. He tries to reconnect with his father (Brian Cox), friends (Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Barry Pepper), and his girlfriend (Rosario Dawson) – who may have been the one who gave him up to the cops. Lee brilliantly dances around the idea of self-determination, and the film is all about choices – especially the ones made in such a brief window of time. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Spike Lee and screenwriter David Benioff, deleted scenes, "Spike Lee: The Evolution Of An American Filmmaker" featurette, and "Ground Zero - A Tribute" featurette.

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

This true story marks the directorial debut of Denzel Washington, who also stars as the naval psychiatrist tasked with helping a young sailor, Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke), deal with his volatile temper. What follows is a nicely constructed tale of revelations and emotions as Antwone confronts his past and the family he never knew. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Washington and producer Todd Black, "Meeting Antwone Fisher" featurette, "The Making of Antwone Fisher" featurette, and a "Hollywood and the Navy" featurette.

The steady march of TV shows to DVD continues with the first season releases of a pair of complimentary classics - Cheers: The Complete First Season and Frasier: The Complete First Season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP each). Both sets contain all 22 episodes comprising the aforementioned first seasons (each spanning 4 discs), as well as bonus materials. Cheers contains 3 featurettes ("Setting The Bar: A Conversation With Ted Danson", "Love At First Fight: Opposites Distract", and "Coach Ernie Pantusso's Rules Of The Game"), "I'll Drink To That: Stormin' Norm-isms", and a trivia game. Frasier contains an audio commentary on the pilot episode with Peter Casey and David Lee, 2 featurettes ("Behind The Couch: The Making Of Frasier" and "Frasier Crane's Apartment"), and a trivia game. What's particularly noteworthy is just how solidly funny both of these shows were right off the bat, and it's fun to rediscover some of the little seen (unedited!) gems from the beginning.

(Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

As a sequel to the Sci-Fi Channel's immensely successful production of Dune, Children of Dune is actually a tighter, all-around more satisfying sequel. The rough edges have been sanded down, and the actors all decided to show up for the party (although Susan Sarandon is still a disconcerting presence this go round). Presented in anamorphic widescreen, bonus features are limited to just the "Making Dune's Children: The VFX Revealed" featurette. If it's anything like the release of the original Dune, expect a deluxe special edition in the near future.

(Fox, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP each)

When all of the other Coen Brothers films have long been available on DVD, there continued to be two lone holdouts – their gangster noir picture Miller's Crossing and their black Hollywood comedy Barton Fink. All is now right with the world, as both those titles finally hit our favorite little digital disc. Both are anamorphic and contain special features. Barton Fink includes 8 deleted scenes, a still gallery, and the theatrical trailer. Miller's Crossing contains cast interviews, a Barry Sonnenfeld featurette, a still gallery, and the theatrical trailer. Let those Coen Brothers home film festivals commence!

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

I have to admit – prior to sitting down with this set, I'd never seen the show. I missed both seasons of its run on Fox, and never felt compelled to watch it for reasons I can't recall. It certainly wasn't because I didn't think star Jessica Alba was (to put it politely) cute – because she is. No, something about producer James Cameron's tale of a genetically engineered heroine (Alba) battling the forces who created her in a post-apocalyptic near-future socially and economically crippled by an electromagnetic pulse just didn't pull me in. After watching the first season on DVD, however, I think it's really quite good, and I can certainly see why it garnered many fans. Those fans should be happy with this release, sporting bonus features including an audio commentary on the episode "Pilot" (with Charles Eglee and David Nutter), an audio commentary on "Rising" (with Eglee and Renee Echevarria), an audio commentary on "And I Am A Camera" (with Eglee, Echevarria and Charles Woolnaugh), an audio commentary on "...And Jesus Bought A Casserole" (with Michael Weatherly and Jessica Alba), "Genesis" featurette, "Seattle Ain't What It Used To Be" featurette, "Creating An X-5" featurette, audition tapes, gag reel/bloopers, and  James Cameron's "Dark Angel" video game trailer.

(Universal Music, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP)

Whenever I think of Harry Belafonte, my pop culture infested brain can't help but key two things up automatically – The Muppet Show and Beetlejuice. I think Beetlejuice is pretty self-explanatory ("Day-O" and "Jump in the Line"), those of you who are Muppet-impaired may not remember Belafonte's guest stint on The Muppet Show, which closed out with the powerful "Turn the World Around". That song and 13 others (including "Day-O") are featured on An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Friends . Belafonte is wonderful in concert, as this DVD attests.

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

One would think that The Love Bug would seem dated, especially when one considers that over 30 years have passed since its release. Well, one would be wrong. The flick – about the comic misadventures of a down-on-his-luck racecar driver (Dean Jones), his wacky sidekick (Buddy Hackett), a beautiful love interest (Michele Lee), and a self-aware VW bug – is still a comic thrill ride. The final race sequence – and the always uptight David Tomlinson – is worth the price of admission alone. Speaking of being worth the price of admission, this 2-disc set is filled with extras, including an audio commentary (with Dean Jones, Michele Lee and Buddy Hackett), "Susie The Little Blue Coupe" animated short, deleted scenes, "That Loveable Bug" making-of documentary, "The Man Who Gave Herbie His Voice" featurette, "The Many Lives Of Herbie" featurette, "Herbie Mania" featurette, "Lost Treasures: Searching For Herbie" featurette, "Love Bug Day At Disneyland" featurette, "Herbie On The Rocks" and "Thorndyke And The Bear" sound studio features, 1969 Disney Studio Album, production stills, trailers, radio spots, advertising materials, and a screenplay excerpt.

(Eagle Vision, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

To hear Marvin Gaye in concert is a revelation, and a sobering reminder that such an immense talent is no longer with us. Marvin Gaye: Live in Montreux 1980 contains a 90+ minute glimpse of a true master of soul in action, charting a course from "Got to Give it Up" to a still chilling "What's Going On".

(Lion's Gate, Rated R, DVD-$24.99 SRP)

Perhaps the idea of a young Adolf Hitler put audiences off to this film, or perhaps it was the idea of imagining a young Adolf Hitler as a struggling artist spurned by the art elite was even harder to sell. Either way, the film is a provocative piece of what if, starring Noah Taylor as Adolf and John Cusack as his Jewish art dealer and friend, Max Rothman. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary and trailers.

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

Bob Newhart as the voice of a cartoon mouse is just pure genius. Coupled with a rodent Eva Gabor and set off on an adventure to rescue a kidnapped girl, the result is sublime. The Rescuers is a wonderful film, and it's high time it finally made its debut on DVD, even if it's as a slightly marginal special edition. Still, it is anamorphic, and there are bonus features, including "The Rescuers Scrapbook" behind-the-scenes featurette, "Under the Hat Villains" featurette, the animated short "Three Blind Mouseketeers", and the Disney True-Life Adventure "Water Birds".

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP)

Yes, I have a horrible secret… Every once in a while, I watch Sex and the City. Why? Because I think Kim Cattrall is one of the sexiest women alive. And I also remember when Cynthia Nixon starred in The Manhattan Project, but that's another story. Fans of the show will want to pick up The Complete Fourth Season on DVD, which also features 3 audio commentaries with executive producer Michael Patrick King, episodic previews, and cast & filmmaker biographies.

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

There's just no two ways about this – Star Trek: Nemesis is the worst Star Trek film ever made. It far exceeds the lows set by the unwatchable Insurrection, which is no mean feat. I'm still undecided what one factor pushed it over the edge… was it the spotty direction? The cartoon-like cinematography? The leaden script? The poorly-executed rehash of the brilliant Wrath of Khan? Or was it a blendered concoction of all of these sins? Probably the latter. I never once found myself caring about the plot – which has something to do with the Romulans and a clone of Picard and a duplicate Data and a partridge in a pear tree. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Stuart Baird, 4 documentaries ("New Frontiers: Stuart Baird on Directing Nemesis", "A Bold Vision of the Final Frontier", "A Star Trek Family's Final Journey", and "Red Alert! Shooting the Action of Nemesis"), deleted scenes, a photo gallery, and the original theatrical trailer.

(BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP)

If you made West Wing a comedy and swapped out the American political system with that of the UK, you'd have Yes Minister. Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) is a newly appointed Cabinet Minister who finds himself pitted against the entrenched career civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby (Sir Nigel Hawthorne). This 4 disc set contains the entire series, with bonus features including the 47-minute "Sir Nigel Hawthorne Remembered" documentary, "A Short History of Yes Minister", and a Jonathan Lynn interview.

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

Like a Wild West Brat Pack, Young Guns could have easily been a John Hughes vision of gunslingers – especially since so many members of the cast could easily have been in one of Hughes' 80's teenfests. Shockingly, the end was result was actually a decent flick that holds up quite well these many years later. This special edition DVD contains an audio commentary (with Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko – guess the other castmembers couldn't be bothered), "The Real Billy the Kid" documentary, a trivia track, a trailer gallery, and the theatrical trailer.

Get yourself up to speed for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle by diving into the deep end of Angeldom with a trio of new releases. First up – for all of you old timers – is Charlie's Angels: The Complete First Season (Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$49.94 SRP). Partake of Angel hijinks, 70's style, in this 5 disc set containing all 22 first season episodes and a bonus "Angels Forever" featurette. If your in the mood for more of a sampler package, try The Best of Charlie's Angels (Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which contains 5 episodes of enormous Farrah Fawcett hair. If you'd like to refresh your memory of the first big-screen adventure, be sure to pick up the 2-disc Superbit edition of Charlie's Angels (Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG-13, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which sports featurettes, deleted and extended scenes, "Wired Angels" scene deconstruction, outtakes and bloopers, music videos, theatrical trailers, and an exclusive sneak-peek at Full Throttle.

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

While I could never stand the saccharine nature of the show, I know there were a lot of Dr. Quinn fans out there (which is the only explanation short of the supernatural that I can give to justify the show's long lifespan). This 5-disc set collects the complete first season – 17 episodes - chronicling the adventures of the frontier medico played by Jane Seymour. The set also contains a few bonus features, including the Jane Seymour episode of A&E's Biography, an interactive tour of 19^th century Colorado Springs, cast bios & filmographies, and a photo gallery.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$69.95 SRP)

Although I'm still a bit miffed by its introduction of the handheld shaky-cam into TVs visual vernacular (a toy that has been abused by many a show since), Homicide: Life on the Street was one of the best written cop shows on television. Instead of focusing on quick crime solutions or a car chase a week, Homicide was a show about true detective work within the police force. Nothing was easily solved, but it was an immensely taught – and entertaining – series every step of the way. The phenomenal cast also must be highlighted, including Ned Beatty, Yaphet Kotto, Andre Braugher, and Richard Belzer. This 4 disc DVD set collects all 13 episodes from Seasons 1 & 2, with special features including audio commentary with Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana on the episode "Gone For Good", "To Catch a Killer: Homicide Detectives" episode of A&E's American Justice, commercials, interviews, and a "Music From Homicide" featurette.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP)

Jimmy Neutron was one of the most inventive – and laugh-out-loud funny – animated flicks to come down the pike in a good long while. In many way, it even topped the exceptional output of Pixar. Confusion Fusion collects 8 vignettes that originally aired on Nickelodeon, and all are a welcome addition to the Jimmy Neutron universe. The episode where Jimmy invents self-playing instruments in order he and his friends, Sheen and Carl, to win the talent show is priceless. Watching the trio develop rock star egos and dreams of going solo is worth the price of admission. I hope they continue to produce these, because they make a great companion piece to Spongebob.

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

As a Polish Jewish musician seeking to evade death during the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto, Adrian Brody deserved his Oscar win. As Wladyslaw Szpilman, Brody is a testament to the only thing that truly survives wars, death, and destruction – art. The film is powerful, in much the same way Schindler's List was a decade ago. The anamorphic DVD contains behind-the-scenes and war footage, "Story Of Survival" featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

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

When boy-genius  James Clayton (Colin Farrell) is tapped by CIA agent Walter Burke (Al Pacino) to join the agency, he can little imagine the twists and turns his life will soon take. After falling in love with a fellow recruit (Bridget Moynahan) and beginning to question his odd relationship with his mentor, Burke taps Clayton to help root out a mole. As a thriller, the film is about as by-the-numbers as they come, filled with twists, turns, and plot surprises galore – but that's exactly what one expects from this type of flick, and it delivers. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Roger Donaldson and  Colin Farrell, deleted scenes with optional commentary, "Spy School: Inside the CIA Training Program" featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP)

Sure, the edges are rough, but there's an undeniable charm to Gerry Anderson's very first supermarionation show, Supercar. Mike Mercury pilots the amazing creation of Professor Popkiss and Dr. Beaker, capable of racing from the ocean floor to the edge of space. Mike Mercury is accompanied by his sidekick, Jimmy Gibson, as they experience 39 episodes worth of adventure – all of which are contained in this 5-disc set. The set also features audio commentary with Sylvia Anderson on the episode "Rescue", "Derek Meddings: The Man and His Miniatures" featurette, and a still gallery.

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

Criterion continues to release excellent editions of the films of Akira Kurosawa, with the most recent being Throne of Blood. In Throne , Kurosawa again focuses classic Shakespearean tragedy through the prism of feudal Japan, this time using MacBeth as a launching point, casting mainstay Toshiro Mifune and legendary Japanese actress Isuzu Yamada as the two leads. The result is a powerful piece of cinema, both dramatically and visually, as the bloody tale unfolds on a ghostly landscape engulfed in perpetual fog. The beautifully restored picture and sound are supplemented by bonus features including an audio commentary with Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck, the original theatrical trailer, and a new essay by Stephen Prince (The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa).