Even a year later, I'm still not comfortable watching documentaries about the events of 9/11. I'm beginning to get some sense of how horrific events of the past must have shaped and defined the outlooks of our parents and grandparents – and it's in that historical context that I found a trio of Discovery and Learning Channel documentaries fascinating. World Trade Center: Anatomy of a Collapse (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) reconstructs the multitude of structural and design issues that contributed to the collapse of the Twin Towers – buildings that were designed to withstand an airplane hit. Operation Enduring Freedom: America Fights Back (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) was produced with the cooperation of the US Defense Department, and offers a first-hand look at the massive operation undertaken in Afghanistan in the wake of the disaster – an operation that continues to this day. The most poignant of the three, though, is New York Firefighters: The Brotherhood of 9/11 (Artisan, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). In it, the surviving members of the decimated Rescue Station 3 – who lost eight men who rushed to the World Trade Center to render assistance – try to cope with the emotional aftermath. However, the most emotional release, for me, was the documentary 9/11 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) that originally aired last Winter on CBS. I refused to watch this special when it first aired, choosing not to relive events I had been able – with great difficulty – to compartmentalize. For those unfamiliar, this program begins as two French filmmakers who were shooting a documentary on a rookie New York firefighter – and a single plane flies overhead and slams into one of the towers of the World Trade center. From that point on, it becomes an amazing, frightening, and compelling look at an incredible day in history filled with true heroics.

(New Line, Rated R, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

Ever since the Friday flicks, I've been a fan of Ice Cube's writing (quit your snickering). Maybe that's why I found myself enjoying his latest outing so much. Ice Cube and Mike Epps star as a bounty hunter and two-bit hustler teamed up for a botched diamond heist… and it's all downhill from there. It's definitely a fun film worth checking out. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Kevin Bray and producer Matt Alvarez, 4 documentaries ("Shot Caller: From Videos to Features", "Strictly Business: Making the Benjamins", "Miami Nice", and "All About the Stunts"), a gag reel, a deleted scene, Trina music video for "Told Y'all", theatrical trailers, and the theatrical press kit.

(New Line, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

It wasn't until I saw her performance in Goldmember that I decided to give this Beyonce Knowles/Mekhi Phifer vehicle a try. What I found was a refreshing updating of the classic opera of desire, passion, and betrayal – all wrapped up in the relationship between Carmen (Knowles) and Sgt. Derrick Hill (Mekhi Phifer). It's not a great movie, but its unique execution in adapting so traditional a work definitely makes it worth checking out. The anamorphic DVD contains the MTV "Making Of Carmen" special.

(Lion's Gate, Rated PG-13, DVD-$24.99 SRP)

Peter Bogdanovich makes a fine return to the feature scene with this flick, which tells the possibly apocryphal tale of an ill-fated voyage on the yacht of newspaper magnate William Randolph Heart (Edward Herrmann) in 1925. What starts as an idyllic trip soon becomes overshadowed by a simmering love triangle between a jealous Hearst, his mistress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst), and Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard). Soon, Heart's anger explodes in a most unfortunate manner, leading to events no one could have predicted. The performances are all top-notch (especially Izzard's Chaplin). The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Bogdanovich, the Sundance Channel "Anatomy Of A Scene" program, the restored 1916 Chaplin short "Behind the Screen", "Seein' Stars" newsreel from 1919, cast interviews, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

(National Geographic, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP each)

There are certain things that I can't get enough of, and historical documentaries are pretty high up on that list. Maybe that's why I've been so enamored with two of the latest offerings from National Geographic: Inside the Pentagon and Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West. Inside the Pentagon is an amazingly in-depth look at the history and inner workings of the American Defense Department's nerve center (similar to National Geographic's wonderful Inside the Vatican program from last year). The disc contains a Pentagon timeline and photo gallery. Lewis & Clark is a meticulous recreation of the journey undertaken by two extremely brave explorers who opened up the uncharted territories of  Western North America. The disc also contains a making-of program.

(HBO Home Video, DVD-$99.98 SRP)

Although it was lightyears better than standard TV fair, I was still mildly disappointed in the second season of The Sopranos… but maybe that was because the first season set the bar so incredibly high. Ah, but then came the third season– an outing that restored my faith in what is fast becoming a modern classic. I honestly didn't know how the show would recover from Nancy Marchand's death – the character of Livia Soprano seemed like such a cornerstone to the show – but the third season played upon the ramifications of her death, forcing the characters to adapt and bringing new issues to the fore. The highlight of the season – and, for me, the series so far – was the Steve Buscemi directed "Pine Barrens", which found Christopher and Paulie lost in the wilderness after a hit gone bad. DVD is the perfect medium for watching (and rewatching) The Sopranos – there's nothing better than viewing it in its anamorphic, 5.1 glory. As far as bonus features go, there are audio commentaries on three episodes ("The Telltale Moozadell" with Michael Imperioli, "Pine Barrens" with Steve Buscemi, and "Amour Fou" with David Chase), a behind-the-scenes featurette, cast & crew bios, and episode previews and recaps.

(Anchor Bay, Rated R, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

I'm not a huge horror fan in the least… in fact, I tend to despise slasher flicks… But I've got to tell you – there's something infectiously smarmy about the Sleepaway Camp series. A transsexual psychopath, bloody murder, extremely gratuitous nudity, and 80's summer camp fun (what was it about summer camps in the 80's?) combine to form a quartet of flicks that are just plain awful – goofy awful. To make it easier, Anchor Bay has collected the original Sleepaway Camp and its three sequels in the Sleepaway Camp Survival Kit boxed set, packed with commentaries, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and more.

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

The more I sample of Columbia/Tristar's Superbit line of DVDs, the more addicted I get to the magnificent sound and picture quality to be found there. True, films like A Knight's Tale and Anaconda aren't exactly the cream of the crop, but they're fun little flicks nonetheless. Now, if only they could follow their Hollow Man example and release 2-disc Superbit sets (with the second disc containing the bonus materials), the world would be a better place.

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP each)

If you're a fan of The Muppet Show (you know, back when the Henson Company could produce stuff that was actually *good*), then you'll want to snap up The Best of the Muppet Show Volumes 1 & 2. Volume 1 contains the Mark Hamill, Paul Simon, and Raquel Welch episodes, while Volume 2 features Elton John, Julie Andrews, and Gene Kelly. All of the episodes are complete and uncut, and both discs contain bonus materials (they're identical to the Time/Life DVDs that were released last year, but Columbia/Tristar plans to release 20 volumes – 10 more than Time/Life has).

(Delta, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP each)

For years, Billy Connolly, to me, was "the Scottish teacher on Head of the Class that replaced Howard Hessman." Honest. Then he was John Brown, starring opposite Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown. Little did I know that Billy Connolly was one of the most popular, most respected comedians in the UK. If that comes as a shock to you, then a required primer on this comic genius are two recently released DVD releases: Billy Connolly Live: The Greatest Hits and Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years. Billy Connolly Live: The Greatest Hits is pretty self-explanatory – it's almost 2 ½ hours of liver performances from Connolly's 30 year career (very similar to the recent retrospective HBO did for George Carlin). Erect for 30 Years is a documentary about Connolly's career, peppered with Connolly fans such as Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Izzard, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, and Sean Connery. Yes… Sean Connery. What more of a glowing endorsement could you want? So check them out…

(New Line, Rated R, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

As a fan of the original Blade film, I was a bit leery of Blade II. Why, you ask? I had a bad feeling that they were going to stumble and not live up the first flick. Thankfully, that was not the case, as director Guillermo Del Toro managed to increase not only the energy levels, but the visual panache as well. If that isn't enough to get your blood pumping (please… I know…), then maybe the features on the  2-disc special edition will. Those aforementioned features include an audio commentary by director Guillermo Del Toro and writer David Goyer, an audio commentary by producer Peter Frankfurt and star Wesley Snipes, an isolated score track, "A Pact Of Blood" interactive collection of documentaries and features incorporating branching features, sequence breakdowns, director's notebook, art gallery, storyboards, deleted/alternate scenes with director's introduction and optional commentary, teaser and theatrical trailers, a "Blade II" video game survival guide, and the music video "Child Of The Wild West" by Cypress Hill and Roni Size.

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

Is it just me, or has Warner Bros distinguished itself in the recent past for making a habit of commissioning wonderful animated flicks (Iron Giant , Return of the Joker, Powerpuff Girls), only to abandon them like a red-headed stepchild. Another great film in that unfortunate group is Cats Don't Dance, and it's lack of attention is a crime. With a snappy script, decent animation, and songs by Randy Newman – where can you go wrong? My only regret with this disc is that it's Pan & Scan… Maybe in the future, it'll get the attention from the studio it deserves – but until then, at least it's on DVD. The disc also contains a songbook featurette, "Danny's Hidden Meows", and the film's trailer.

(Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP)

You can't go wrong with the Friends: Season 2 box-set. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't. The show has gotten a bad rap over the years – mostly of the knee-jerk backlash type – but it continues to be one of the smartest, best written, best acted shows on the idiot box. What other show would actually feature an episode where Phoebe's first season coffeehouse standard, "Smelly Cat", gets turned into a mainstream pop hit – soulful music video and all? Add to that the first flare-up of the Ross/Rachel coupling, breast milk, a twisted (yet insightful) prom video, a baby left on a bus, Bizarro-Ross, Phoebe's discovery that Old Yeller does not end well, and even more insanity in these 23 episodes (all sporting expanded cuts featuring never-before-seen footage). The 4 disc set also features 2 audio commentaries (with producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kaufman, and David Crane on the episodes "The One with the List" and "The One with the Prom Video") "Open House At Monica And Rachel's Place" interactive map, "Friends Of Friends" video guestbook, "How Well Do You Know Your Friends?" trivia quiz (with a very special musical surprise if you win), and the "What's Up With Your Friends?" video character biographies.

(Pioneer, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Harry Chapin – who unfortunately doesn't have nearly the legacy he should have, thanks to an early death in a horrible car accident nearly 20 years ago. The legacy he does have is usually limited in most people's minds to two of his hits –"Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle" – which is unfortunate, since he was a very talented guy who deserves to be rediscovered by this generation. He was also one of those performers who become electrified in live appearances – often presenting renditions of his songs that are more definitive than the ones on his studio albums. You can experience a bit of that energy and artistry on this disc, which presents a live concert recorded for a German television program on April 12 ^th, 1977. Give it a spin.

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

If there's a better example of the declining creativity of the Henson Company, I'm not sure what it would be. Kermit's Swamp Years revolves around the adventures of a young Kermit and his swamp buddies in exploits too boring and contrived for me to even mention… Something about his friend getting kidnapped by a pet store owner and me wishing for the good old days of The Muppet Show. Anyhoo, the anamorphic DVD contains a blooper reel, selected scene audio commentary with Kermit and his friend Horace, a behind-the-scenes featurette, an "On the Set" featurette with Kermit, and trailers.

(Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I've never really been a big fan of Disney's Saturday Morning "variety" show, House of Mouse. Maybe it's the poorly rejiggered renditions of classic Disney songs, the sub-par animation when compared to the classic cartoons featured within, or the bad writing. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by this mini-movie which operates under the premise that Mickey's House of Mouse nightclub has been overtaken by all of Disney's classic villains – from Captain Hook to Ursula. The real highlight, though, is the amazingly restored classic cartoons, particularly a favorite Donald vs. Huey Dewey and Louie selection titled "Trick or Treat". The DVD contains a trivia game, hidden villains, and spooky sound effects in Surround Sound.

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$79.96 SRP)

If you're looking to go on a sci-fi TV kick, you can't go wrong picking up one the complete first season of a television classic – The Outer Limits . Containing all 32 episodes from that premiere season (that's over 27 hours of viewing – beware of OD), it's a fun trip to sample such a seminal work of sci-fi in such a concentrated (and digitally beautiful) form, complete and uncut. It's about time this show moved out from behind the shadow of the (often preachy) Twilight Zone.

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

I never cease to be amazed by what subject matter the gang at South Park will tackle – be it homicidal pets from another dimension, Korn as the Scooby gang, Underpants Gnomes, or a sentient Trapper Keeper bent on world domination. I'm just stunned. After a few seconds, amazement passes, and I'm left laughing at the insanity and audacity of it all. So what is that mean? That means you should pick up a copy of this disc - containing the episodes "Korn's Groovy Ghost Mystery", "Spookyfish", "Underpants Gnomes", and "Trapper Keeper" – and eagerly await the release of the Season One box-set.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$134.99 SRP)

If the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation was my favorite, the fourth season runs a very close second. Not only does it have the second part of the only great cliffhanger of the entire series, the Picard as Borg "Best of Both Worlds", but there's also the Q episode "Qpid" (which finds Q playing the Sheriff of Nottingham to Picard's Robin Hood as Q attempts to prove Picard's love for an old flame long thought dormant), the Barclay episode "Nth Degree" (with the alien-influenced UberBarclay), and my personal favorite – "Clues" (where the crew begins to suspect foul play when an entire day goes missing). Were all 26 episodes great? No. There are some clunkers in there (like the abysmal Troi episode when she loses her empathic abilities and becomes a… well… not so nice word). Overall, though, the fourth season was one of the best, and well worth checking out on DVD. As far as special features go, they're nearly identical in style to the past 3 box-sets - "Mission Overview: Year Four" featurette,  "Selected Crew Analysis: Year Four" featurette, "Departmental Briefing: Year Four: Production" featurette, "New Life And New Civilizations" featurette, and the "Chronicles From The Final Frontier" featurette.

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$69.96 SRP)

It's not often that a TV adaptation of a film works… For every M*A*S*H, there's a Ferris Bueller's Day Off (which, granted, did give us Jennifer Aniston). So, with that in mind, it's really quite amazing that Stargate SG-1 has continued to prosper… Okay, maybe it's not so amazing once you begin looking at some of the episodes contained in the show's second season – all of which are conveniently available in the Stargate SG-1 5-disc box set. It's a fun, exciting extrapolation off of the original film's premise. As far as special features go, the set contains trailers, a featurette on Dr. Jackson, a production design featurette, and a Teal'c featurette.

(Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP)

If your only knowledge of Alec Guinness is as Obi-Wan Kenobi, then you've only experienced a small fraction of one of the 20^th Century's finest actors (and don't think I don't feel odd saying 20^th Century). If you're one of those sad sacks who haven't experienced classic Guinness, you now have no excuse. By picking up The Alec Guinness Collection box set, you can partake of 5 classic Guinness films from his days at the Ealing studios – Kind Hearts and Coronets (where Alec plays eight separate roles), The Lavender Hill Mob , The Man in the White Suit, The Captain's Paradise, and The Ladykillers (with Peter Sellers, no less). All of these discs feature beautifully restored prints (if you've ever seen these films on VHS, these new prints are a revelation), a Guinness bio, and trailers. Now go! Buy! You have no excuse…

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

On the surface, Changing Lanes could be perceived as just another superficial thriller pitting two characters in an annoying game of one-upsmanship. Surprisingly enough, Lanes doesn't fall into the trap. Instead, it's a smartly constructed psychological duel. In a nutshell, it's the story of how one little car accident can drive two men to the brink – one, a high-powered lawyer (Ben Affleck) on his way to court with the documents needed to win a big case, the other is a man (Samuel L. Jackson) racing the clock so he can make it to court in time or else risk losing custody of his child. Unfortunately, the accident makes one man late and the other loses his important papers – which happen to be in the hands of the now embittered father. Hey, to say anymore would ruin the thrills, but suffice to say, the two escalate hostilities in very surprising – and vengeful – ways. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Roger Michell, a making-of featurette, a "Writer's Perspective" featurette, 2 deleted scenes, one extended scene, and a trailer.

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

I honestly didn't expect much from this flick. Maybe it's because I've been burned by so many "period adventures" in the past couple of years. The Musketeer, anyone? But you know – I found myself being drawn into this film. Maybe it's the engaging performances from Jim Caviezel (as the dashing and honorable Edmond Dantes) and Guy Pearce (as his best friend). When Dantes is betrayed and imprisoned, he craves nothing but vengeance against his former friend – a vengeance he seeks after a miraculous escape, transforming himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo. It's swashbuckling fun that's worth checking out. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio Commentary with director Kevin Reynolds, "The Clash of Steel"stunt choreography featurette, "Adapting a Classic" screenwriting documentary, deleted scenes with director and editor commentary, "The Napoleonic World" production design feature, "Layer By Layer" interactive sound design player, "The Pen" retrospective on author Alexandre Dumas, and the theatrical trailer.

(Anchor Bay, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP)

I guess the ultimate moral of this gore-filled little tale is to be careful how you choose your friends, as an innocent country boy is seduced by a beautiful girl into joining a nomadic pack of vicious drifters. Led by an enigmatic leader (Lance Henriksen), it's soon quite evident that they are far more than they appear – and our smitten country boy discovers the horrible evil that he's now associated with as he tries desperately to escape. Near Dark is a stylish, violent, mesmerizing flick that's worth checking out on just its technical aspects – the story itself is icing on the cake. The two-disc anamorphic special edition contains an audio commentary with director Kathryn Bigelow, the "Living In Darkness" 47 minute documentary (featuring interviews with Bigelow, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Adrian Pasdar, Jenette Goldstein, Producer Steven-Charles Jaffe, Director of Photography Adam Greenberg, and Executive Producer Edward S. Feldman), behind-the-scenes still gallery, deleted scene with commentary, trailers, talent bios, poster & still gallery, and storyboards.

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

It's an odd thing, but I kept thinking about Billy Connolly while watching Lynne Ramsay's evocation of the a troubled Glasgow childhood in the film Ratcatcher. Set during Scotland's national garbage strike during the mid-1970's, it focuses on a small boy's attempts to reconcile his hopes and reams for a better life with the social devastation that surrounds him. In the end, as despair threatens to engulf everything it touches, this is a tale of perseverance and persistence… And maybe that's why I kept thinking of Billy Connolly, a Glasgow native who overcame much the same before moving on to a better life. The anamorphic DVD contains an interview with Ramsay, three short films from Ramsay (Small Deaths, Kill the Day, and Gasman), a stills gallery, and trailer.

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

Rex and Runt is the product of Aardman Animations (the same gents who brought us Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run). It also has to be one of the most surreal, endearingly weird – and totally funny – animated series to come down the pike in a… well… a long, long time. It's really quite hard to describe the premise of the show… Let's just say that it has characters who love cigars, bums, and Hoovers, and that their adventures include Secret Laboratories, singing sausages, time travel, and Easter Island. Are you intrigued yet? The 2-disc DVD set includes a photo gallery, character bios, a bio on series creator Richard Goleszowski, and a trailer for season 2.

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

If you're in the mood for a little film noir action this weekend (and really, who isn't), you might want to check out this film. When the wife of jazzman Danny Parker (Val Kilmer) is murdered, his life hits the skids. But is his gutter-dwelling life amongst L.A.'s dregs real, or is it all an illusion? That's the central thrust of this engaging movie. Salton is not a perfect film – it doesn't give The Third Man any competition – but it's a serviceable piece of entertainment worth checking out. The anamorphic DVD contains the documentaries "Embracing The Chaos: A Conversation With The Cast of The Salton Sea"

and "Meth and Method: Production Design for The Salton Sea", filmographies, and the film's trailer.

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

Even though the television landscape seems bleaker than it's ever been, occasionally a unique show is allowed to escape onto the scene – and Fox's 24 is one of those shows. How else can you explain a 24 episode season done in real time, with each installment representing a continuous time span within a single day? Those 24 episodes represent 24 hours in the life of FBI Counter-Terrorist Unit chief Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland), who not only has to avert an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate, but must also recover his kidnapped family. Despite the melodramatic overtones of the synopsis, the show is actually a surprisingly multi-layered , propulsive drama that kept me guessing as I watched the DVDs – and I already knew the ending! Oh yeah… a warning… Once you start watching, you're not going to be able to stop. It's just that addictive. So make sure you set aside a day to view the whole kit-and-kaboodle. Adding to the cinematic quality of the whole affair is the anamorphic presentation. As far as extras go, you get an alternate ending to the season finale (shot to throw off spoilsports), an introduction to Season One by Kiefer Sutherland, and a Season 2 teaser. Bring it on.

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

Sure, he's a decent enough actor – but I'm still not convinced that Josh Hartnett is a leading man. Maybe that's because I've been burned by The Abomination (one of my more generous nicknames for Pearl Harbor) and now this film, which finds Hartnett starring as a guy who – after a string of disastrous relationships – decides to forgo sex for (you guessed it) 40 days and 40 nights. Wouldn't you know it – not long after making this vow, he meets the woman of his dreams – but can he hold out? Do we care? I didn't. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary (with director Michael Lehmann, producer Michael London and screenwriter Robert Perez) and a trailer.

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

This is, hands down, one of the finest black comedies ever made. I don't care what kind of critic herd mentality bashing you may have been pummeled with when this flick was released – just ignore it. When uber-popular kiddie show host Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is caught in a payola bust (he was accepting bribes to place kids on camera) he's fired and thrown out on the street. His replacement is a goodie-two-shoes hippie named Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), whose character, Smoochy, becomes the new hit on the kiddie show scene. Randolph is out for revenge – and add to that Mafioso's with ice show and children's charity rackets, a mentally impaired world famous prizefighter, an unscrupulous executive (Jon Stewart), an even more shifty agent (Danny DeVito), and a love interest (Catherine Keener) with a decidedly checkered past. What do you get? A film that has to be seen to be believed – so give it a chance. The anamorphic DVD contains audio commentary with director Danny DeVito and director of photography Anastas Michos, a behind-the-scenes documentary,  11 additional scenes, an interactive ice show (allowing the user to change camera angles during one of the film's highlights), bloopers & outtakes, storyboards, production stills, mock newspapers, art materials, one-sheets, and trailers.

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, $24.95 SRP)

If anyone remembers the early days of VHS, you'll recall how slow it was for older, classic genre catalog titles to be released on the format – generally, the primary releases were the big gun titles like Star Wars and Wizard of Oz. In its infinite superiority, DVD has turned that thinking on its ear – allowing for the special edition release of a flick like the sci-fi classic Earth vs. the Flying Saucers. Not only is it a spotless anamorphic print, but there's also a Ray Harryhausen documentary (Ray handled the special effects), a brand new making-of featurette, a featurette on Dynamation, a photo gallery, and trailers. Thank you, DVD!

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

Frailty is one of the most unique – and stylistically subdued (to its favor) – horror films I've seen in quite awhile. In fact, I even hesitate using the word "horror"… Maybe psychological thriller. Either way, Bill Paxton does an admirable job in his directorial debut, about a most unlikely serial killer. I almost hesitate to give any of the plot away, since it was so much fun experiencing the film with a blank slate. In fact – I won't say another word about it except to recommend you check it out. The anamorphic DVD contains  an audio commentary, a making-of, the Sundance Channel "Anatomy of a Scene", production stills, storyboards, director interviews, deleted scenes, and the theatrical trailer.

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

Admittedly, I did not see Monsters, Inc. on the big screen. I have viewed the DVD on a very nice HDTV set-up, though, and walked away somewhat disappointed. Don't get me wrong – a less-than-excellent Pixar film is still lightyears beyond the dreck Disney and Dreamworks have tried to force feed audiences in the past few years. Still, I found a certain coldness to the story – and animation – in Monsters, Inc. In regards to the story - about a small child's intrusion into the realm of monsters (where they harvest children's' screams for power and consider children to be highly infectious) - it may be due to the fact that it doesn't really seem to gain any momentum until the last 20 minutes. The other minor quibble I had is with the character design – it just seems a little flat. Of the two lead characters, John Goodman's Sully (the big hairy one) is a wonderful piece of design animation, but Billy Crystal's Mike Wazowski (the green ball with the eye) is just this side of a cipher. Still – as I said – it's a far sight better than anything else in the market, and Pixar continues their fine tradition of producing some of the best DVD special editions out there. Hold on to your hat, because this time around, the two-disc set contains both anamorphic widescreen and pan & scan editions of the film, an audio commentary track (with director Pete Docter, co-director Lee Unkrich, executive producer John Lasseter, and executive producer and screenwriter Andrew Stanton), the "For the Birds" short, outtakes, the "Monsters, Inc. Orientation" (company handbook with co-worker bios), "Mike's New Car" short film created for this release, Monsters, Inc. TV Treats,  Boo's Door Game, "Disney/Pixar Storytime - Welcome To Monstropolis", "If I Didn't Have You" music feature, "Behind the Screams - On The Job With Mike and Sulley" featurette, behind-the-scenes featurettes ("Computer Animation", "Creating Monstropolis", "Animation Gags", "Location Flyarounds", "Never-Before-Seen Tests", "Abandoned Concepts", "Guide to Inside Jokes"), a Pixar Tour, From Story to Storyboard featurettes ("Story Is King", "Monsters Are Real", "Original Treatment", "Story Pitch", "Abandoned Concepts", "Original Opening", "Storyboard To Film Comparison"), Monster Files featurette ("Cast of Characters", "What Makes A Great Monster?", "Character Design"), Design featurettes ("Monstropolis", "Setting the Scene", "Color Scripts", "Location Flyarounds", "Monstropolis Art Gallery", "Guide to In Jokes''), Animation featurettes ("The Animation Process", "Early Tests", "Opening Title Animation", "Shots Department", "Master Lighting", "Production Demonstration" ), Music and Sound Design featurettes ("Monster Songs'', "Mixing Demo", "Binaural Recording", "Sound Design"), and Theatrical Release featurettes/materials ("Premiere", Teaser, Trailers, TV Spots, International Elements, Toys, Posters). Whew! Geez, my fingers hurt…

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

I went into Panic Room with high hopes. Here was a thriller from David Fincher (a director whose work I find interesting), starring Jodie Foster (an actress who usually goes for solid roles). Unfortunately, what I saw was a flick that was too gimmicky in its execution for its own good. Trippy cameras and too-much CG deadens the dread in this story about a recently divorced mother and her teenage daughter who are trapped in the panic room (a secure room) of their brand new house as a trio of men ransack their house in search of millions of dollars hidden there. Panic Room has been released as a Superbit edition with only the teaser trailer for now, but a deluxe special edition is due out next year.

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$14.95 SRP)

A good deal of my love for this film comes from its naiveté… In age where we love to tear down our heroes and reveal their feet of clay, the adoring – almost reverential – portrait this film paints of Yankee ballplayer Lou Gehrig is refreshing in its simplicity. For sports buffs, there's even a cameo from Babe Ruth himself. For pop culture buffs, this film contains one of the most oft-parodied/ripped-off scenes in film history, during Gehrig's farewell speech in the "House That Ruth Built"… echoes and all.

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

If you remember watching MTV in the a few (long) years back, you may remember when an odd little British sitcom began airing. It centered around a group of completely incompatible college roommates – a punk, a hippy, a con, and a smart guy – whose existence was light years beyond anarchic. And the show was friggin' hilarious. Now you can get the complete 12 episode run along with bonus features including "Creating the Young Ones" featurette, "The Young Ones and the 80's" featurette, two pilots featuring the cast of the Young Ones, and a segment from a Rik Mayall concert.

(Warner Bros, Rated R, DVD-$26.99 SRP each)

As the years pass by and DVD becomes more and more accepted, I've noticed what I've come to refer to as a "second golden age". The first golden age was when films I had been desperately waiting for finally began to be released on the format. The second golden age is when those initial, often bare-bones quickie releases are now getting full-blown, deluxe 2-disc special editions loaded with gorgeous prints and bountiful extras. A quartet of those long-awaited releases have finally hit stores – and the wait was definitely worth it. First up is Amadeus – a film that has only been available in a lackluster flipper release up until now. What a joy it is, then, to delve into this re-release, containing a brand new anamorphic print, an audio commentary with director Milos Foreman and Peter Schafer, a brand new making-of documentary, and the theatrical trailer. Speaking of Milos Forman, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest gets the same treatment - including a new anamorphic transfer, audio commentary with Forman and producers Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz, deleted scenes, a making-of documentary, and trailer. Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott's True Romance is next up on the special edition block – new anamorphic transfer, an audio commentary with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, an audio commentary with Scott and Tarantino, a Storyboard Track (that has to be seen to be believed – very cool), deleted and extended scenes with optional commentary, an alternate ending with optional commentary, selective commentaries (with Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, and Michael Rappaport), a behind-the-scenes featurette, animated photo gallery, original 1993 featurette, trailer, and TV spots. Whew! But wait! Finally up to bat is Clint Eastwood's modern classic Unforgiven. Brand new transfer? Check. So what else? How about an audio commentary with film critic and Eastwood biographer Richard Schickel (it's not Eastwood, but it's still a great track), trailer, the brand new "All on Accounta Pullin' a Trigger" documentary, 1992's "Eastwood & Co.: Making Unforgiven", 1992's "Eastwood… A Star", Schickel's 1997 Career Profile "Eastwood on Eastwood", and – best of all – the classic Maverick episode "Duel at Sundown" starring you know who. Priceless! Now where's Goodfellas?

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

It's when I see him acting in mediocre projects like this and Deuce's Wild that I really begin to feel sorry for Frankie Muniz. He's a talented actor that should know better than to ever involve himself in lowbrow goofiness like this, about a kid who gets an idea ripped off by a callous Hollywood producer (Paul Giamatti) – a story no one believes due to his tendency to stretch the truth - so he seeks revenge against the guy in order to prove he was telling the truth. For some reason , Universal has only released this in Pan & Scan (Wake up, Universal!) with audio commentaries (featuring Frankie Muniz and director Shawn Levy), deleted scenes, Spyro videogame extras, an interactive Universal Studios backlot adventure, a behind-the-scenes featurette, trivia games, trailers, and menus featuring star Amanda Bynes.

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

After the abysmal U-571, it was only a matter of time until another filmmaker came along and took the time to make a better picture about the Allies' pursuit of the German Enigma code. This time around, though, it focuses on a young British codebreaker's (Dougray Scott)attempts to crack the code. He must also deal with the disappearance of his lover Claire (Saffron Burrows) – a disappearance that may be linked to the very code he's trying to crack. As a ruthless secret agent (Jeremy Northam) closes in, he must race the clock to solve one of the greatest puzzles of the second world war… and it makes for fine viewing, too! The anamorphic DVD contains the film's trailer.

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$24.99 SRP)

For fans of this seminal movie musical, the wait for its DVD release has been a very, very long one. It has arrived, though, sporting a decent transfer (nothing to write home about, but good) and a remixed 5.1 soundtrack (that sounds better than it ever has, which is almost disconcerting). The anamorphic DVD also contains retrospective interviews with cast & crew and the theatrical trailer.

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

No matter how many angles I approach it from, The Grifters is still an incredibly bleak tale about a love triangle between mother (Angelica Huston), son (John Cusack), and girlfriend (Annette Bening) con artists. Unfortunately for two-bit hustler Roy, the women in his life play in a league far above his – a league that leads to games of mistrust with far deadlier consequences. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary (with director Stephen Frears, screenwriter Donald Westlake, and actors John Cusack and Angelica Huston), a "Making Of The Grifters" documentary, "The Jim Thompson Story" featurette,  a Grifters Scrapbook, and the theatrical trailer.

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

It's easy to call A Hard Day's Night a classic… Because it is. Not only is it one of the greatest "pop films" ever made, but it's also an intoxicatingly surreal picture. The Beatles are at the top of their game here, and it is to their credit that the flick so cheekily tweaks the raging Beatlemania around them. And heck – let's not forget the wonderful soundtrack. Miramax has done a very nice job restoring the film (it's never looked or sounded better), and the anamorphic DVD is packed with extras spanning 2 discs. Those extras include a brand new making-of documentary "Things They Said Today...", "Their Production Will Be Second To None" (interviews), "With The Beatles" (cast information featurettes), "Working Like A Dog" (production crew information), "Busy Working Overtime" (post-production information), "Listen To The Music Playing In Your Head" (George Martin featurette), "Such A Clean Old Man" (memories of Wilfrid Brambell), "I've Lost My Little Girl" & "Taking Testimonial Pictures" (interviews with Isla Blair and Robert Freeman), "Dressed To The Hilt" & "Dealing With 'The Men From The Press'" (interviews with Gordon Millings and Tony Barrow), "They And I Have Memories" & "Hitting The Big Time In The USA" (interviews with Klaus Voorman and Sid Bernstein), "Remember All The Little Things" (scrapbook), and roundtable discussions. My only real disappointment comes from the fact that neither of the surviving Beatles participated in the bonus features – a small quibble when you look at the volume of supplements contained in the set, but disappointing nonetheless.

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

There's nothing like watching It's a Wonderful Life to put a person in the holiday spirit… even if it's only September. Even better? Watching an uncut, fully restored version of the film that looks almost pristine. Add to that a brand new making-of documentary, a tribute to Frank Capra, and the original theatrical trailer, and what better gift could a person ask for?

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

There are certain film franchises that should never had made it past the often decent first installment – Police Academy… Rocky… Blues Brothers… Cannonball Run… and Major League. The first Major League, newly released on DVD, is an amiable skewering of the often idiosyncratic players in minor league baseball – sort of a goofball Bull Durham. On its own, I actually like Major League and its lead performances from Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, and Tom Berenger. And then they made horrible sequels. So your best bet is to pretend that those abominations don't exist and just pick up this installment.

(Universal, Rated R, DVD-$32.98 SRP)

Indian filmmaker Mira Nair delivers a charming, fun, energetic, and touching film about an extended family's gathering in order to have a traditional wedding celebration during the height of the unpredictable monsoon season – and their festivities prove to be just as unpredictable. This is the closest I've seen a Hollywood flick come to capturing the sheer exuberance of a Bollywood flick. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with Nair and a making-of featurette.

(Miramax, Not Rated, DVD-$69.99 SRP)

Forget books. Forget classes. The Ben Affleck/Matt Damon produced Project Greenlight contest – and subsequent documentary series – is more informative about the working of the movie business then any tome or lecture. Maybe that's because it's an unexpectedly warts-and-all look behind the curtain, revealing the epic battles, the smaller triumphs, the bigger compromises, the personalities, and the importance of a capable crew during the filming of first time writer/director (and contest winner) Pete Jones' film, Stolen Summer. It's also a very funny series, which should come as no to surprise to anyone who's been in a pressure cooker situation. Not only does the four disc box set contain the full series, but it also contains Stolen Summer – which makes for a very nice finale to the filmmaking process. The set also includes the entry videos and scenes from the 25 semifinalists, additional behind-the-scenes footage, and much more.

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

A&E continues their commitment to classic TV with the release of the penultimate sets (Set 4 and 5, to be exact) of Secret Agent (aka Danger Man) – leaving only one more set to go until the entire series on DVD. Patrick McGoohan's secret agent is a thinking man's spy, only using violence as a last resort. While attempts may be made to compare him to Bond, McGoohan's John Drake makes 007 look oafish by comparison – heck, there are even shades of MacGuyver. Drake finds creative ways to work within the parameters of his mission and sanction, while Bond frequently crosses the line – making Drake a far more complex character. A&E continues to do a nice job on the digital restoration of their series releases – it's always nice to pop something like this in and be amazed at just how good it looks compared to how it's looked in the past. As far as supplements go, both sets contain the original US opening of the show (featuring Johnny Rivers "Secret Agent Man") and a photo gallery.

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

Who'd have thought, a scant 7 years later, that Swingers would be such a period piece? Jon Favreau's witty take on the social lives of a group of down-and-out LA actors is still funny, even if the swingin' club scene has changed a dozen times since then. Still, there's always something universal in man's hunt of the opposite sex – especially the humiliating defeats. Originally released as a bare bones disc in the first wave of Miramax's DVD output, they've revisited it with a deluxe special edition with a nice array of features (a trend I'm really digging). Those features include an anamorphic transfer, a filmmakers' audio commentary (with director Doug Liman and editor Stephen Mirrione), an illustrated audio commentary (with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn), the "Making It In Hollywood" documentary, deleted scenes, the "Swingblade" parody, and trailer.

(Acorn Media, Not Rated, DVD-$69.95 SRP)

In one of Sir Alec Guinness' final major roles, he portrayed George Smiley – a retired spy put back into service in order to ferret out a mole within the British Secret Intelligence Service, nicknamed "The Circus". Multi-layered and entirely gripping, this is simply one of the finest spy movies ever made – and it was done for TV! Guinness as Smiley acts befuddled, but it's a coy façade concealing a razor sharp mind that unravels the mystery at hand beginning with only the faintest of leads – an act of deduction that riveted me to my seat for the entire span of this lengthy production. The DVD set also contains an interview with John le Carre (author of the books upon which the film is based), production notes, a le Carre biography & booklist, and cast filmographies.

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

Trading Places is one of those flicks that I refer to as "Cable Nostalgia Film". What that means, basically, is that my love of this film derives from the dozens of times I saw it on cable (be it HBO or TBS) growing up. Believe it or not, that makes it special (quit yer laughing), and it's also made the wait for this to finally hit DVD almost interminable. For those who don't know the story (shame on you) a very brief recap… two very rich brothers, heads of a brokerage firm (Don Ameche & Ralph Bellamy), make a wager over what determines a person's position in life. The subjects of their wager are one of their top flight employees (Dan Aykroyd) and a homeless man (Eddie Murphy) – whose roles they reverse by completely stripping their employee of his money and job and giving it to the homeless man. One of the best comedies of the 80's – and one of director John Landis' finest films – ensues. Unfortunately, this is a completely featureless (though thankfully anamorphic) DVD – not even a trailer. So where's the special edition?

(Criterion, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

It's films like this that almost make one believe that there really is a romantic Paris to pine for… instead of a bitter façade covering a snooty caramel center. Rene Clair's classic romantic portrait of a flamboyant city is brought to life via a tale of a romantic triangle between a gangster, a street singer, and a beautiful young woman – all told primarily through song. The special edition DVD contains a deleted scene (amazingly enough), Clair's silent film Paris qui dort, a 1966 BBC-TV interview with Clair, and a trailer.

(Hollywood Pictures, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that this was being released. It's been in the can for five years now, receiving a release only in Canada but never the US. It even won an award for Best Screenplay at the US Comedy Arts festival – yet it still languished on a shelf, becoming almost mythical. Its story puts an interesting twist on the hoary Hitchcock conceit of a man on the run, adding a dash of The Fugitive in for good measure. Dave Foley plays Nelson Hibbert – an extremely high strung executive who has just been passed over for promotion by the head of the company. Hibbert thought he had the promotion in the bag, seeing as how he's engaged to the boss' daughter – unfortunately, the guy who got the job is married to the boss' favorite daughter. Shortly after the meeting, an indignant Hibbert barges into his boss' office, finding him dead at his desk with a knife in his back. Hibbert freaks out, fumbling around the office before fleeing – covered in blood – believing that everyone must think that he did it. The only thing is – the cops know he didn't do it, thanks to a videotape that captured the real killer. Hibbert goes on the lam, in his own inept fashion, but his path keeps crossing with both the police and the real killer. Why this film never got a release here in the States I'll never know, but at least it's finally out on DVD. So go get it.