SPY KIDS 3-D
Dimension Home Video

- Director Robert Rodriguez invented an imagine, exciting family film with the first "Spy Kids" movie but even that film had a loose plot. What was wonderful was the fact that the kids, Juni ((Daryl Sabara) and his sister, Carmen (Alexa vEGA) discovered the Cortez family secret -- their parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) were spies for the US government! The kids quickly joined the spy biz and were off on glorious adventures.

- In the third installment of the series, Juni has retired and he's running a private detective agency when he's called back by the government to search for Carmen who is lost in a new game that's sweeping the world of the internet. The evil inventor played by Sylvester Stallone (oh, boy!) plans to lure the smartest kids into his game and hold them hostage while he attempts to escape the confines of a clever internet prison. Juni's aided most by his grandfather (Ricardo Montalban) who helps him maneuver the tricks, speed racing and fighting challenges on the different levels of the game. Frankly, this is a big-screen chess game that calls itself a movie because Rodriguez brings back many players from the two previous movies for brief cameos! Kids who are gamers may love this film but frankly, I got bored nearly half-way and I think this will be true of most viewers. The 3-D was fun because you didn't have to watch the entire movie with the color-tinted glasses.

The two disc set has many fascinating aspects of Rodriguez's construction of the film and fans as well as aspiring filmmakers will be thrilled with the secrets that the director reveals. In his small set near his home in Texas, we see the actors, who worked mostly using 'green screen' -- acting without sets or much interaction with the other cast -- so that their movements would be incorporated in the computer designs later. The discs also include a music video by Alexa Vega, who is a big teen pop star, featurettes about the making of the movie and the "Ten minute Film School," surfing and stunt pieces, a 3-D and 2-D game, 4 pairs of 3-D glasses and much more.

IN THE CUT
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment

- Director Jane Champion's erotic thriller is a revelation for several reasons. First, while constructing a gory murder mystery, her story involves the beginning of a passionate romance between a teacher and the street wise detective investigating the case. This romance is stunningly erotic and adult, and this is something that is missing in most contemporary dramas.

Meg Ryan, the romantic darling of countless wholesome romances, plays Frannie Avery, a reserved teacher while Jennifer Jason Lee, the darling of many gritty erotic movies, plays her slightly nutty sister. When a murder victim's remains are found near Frannie's building, she's interviewed by a handsome, nonsense detective (Mark Ruffalo) who is instantly attracted to her. When he propositions her, it is so honest and straight-forward that she's taken aback. But the sexual relationship is liberating for Frannie and she's disturbed when her joy is cut by her suspicions that the cop may be involved in the murder. Everyone is surprised at Ryan's performance because she embraces Frannie's willingness to be open but the true revelation is Mark Ruffalo, who usually plays men who are troubled and far gentler in their involvement with women. He makes an incredible transformation in the way he looks and acts. His performance truly astonishing! The mystery is mild and most viewers will guess who the killer is long before the film ends, but the reason to see "In the Cut" is the romance because it is honest in its portrayal of many men and women. This is a gripping film experience.

The disc has an intriguing director's commentary, a slang dictionary featurette, a behind the scenes look and the theatrical trailer. For good drama addicts, this one is a keeper.

PIECES OF APRIL
MGM DVD

- When April Barnes (Katie Holmes) volunteers to cook Thanksgiving Dinner for her estranged family, it's an attempt to make amends especially since it may be her mother's (Patricia Clarkson) last holiday supper. April wants her suburban family to see that she's made a good life for herself with her boyfriend (Derek Luke) on the Lower Eastside. But on Thanksgiving day, she discovers that her stove is broken and she must find another stove quickly to cook dinner or the entire family event will be ruined. So, she begins to trek up and down the stairs of her gritty tenement building and along the way, she connects with her neighbors in ways that she hasn't connected with her family. Meanwhile, the family has piled into the car for the long journey to the city and April's mother is sure that it will be a disaster. Both Clarkson and Oliver Platt give poignant and spirited performances as April's parents. They are a couple in pain because the wife is dying and their time together (and with their children) is short. Also, Holmes, who became a star on TV's "Dawson's Creek," is a natural beauty and talent who is so comfortable on the big screen. Her black-finger-nailed, dyed red haired young woman has a pure heart who adores her new boyfriend and knows how to get tough with the lusty, selfish neighbor (Sean Hayes, Tv's "Will and Grace") upstairs. This is both poignant and funny!

The disc includes an informative audio commentary by the director and a wonderful behind the scenes featurette.

ROSWELL
Twentieth Century Fox Home Video

- What a treat for fans of this TV series! It's for every kid who has ever felt different or alone. Based on the popular series of books, "Roswell High," the series about three alien teens - Max, Isabel and Michael - living in the small New Mexico town near the crash site of their vessel propelled to instant cult status when it aired. It opens with the verbal diary entry, "I'm Liz Parker and five days ago I died." Shot in a freak accident, Liz is saved by Max, a kid she barely knows. He's been nursing a crush on her and when Liz insists on knowing how he saved her life, Max reveals a secret that no one else knows -- not even his parents! She's stunned and when Isabel and Michael find out what Max has done, they're upset. Of course, slowly the secret is passed along to Liz's best friends and even the Sheriff suspects that something unusual has happened. His father before him talked about the crash of 1948 and a killer alien but until now, that has all be rumor and fantasy. The Sheriff's suspicions are taken up by the FBI and eventually, several alien hunters come to town waiting for the right moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Max and Liz fall in love and begin to explore their relation. Michael and Liz's best friend Maria begin a rocky relationship while Isabel struggles with her own feelings of loneliness and yearning. One of the key elements of the series was that erotic energy in the teenagers who kissed like hungry adults and the confusion of growing up and facing the consciences of your actions. The attractive cast, the mix of sci-fi and teenage romantic angst was a great formula for a series. Fans will adore the return of these characters!

The six discs set includes all 22 episodes of Season One, selected episode commentaries, "Area 51" and "Roswell High" featurettes, numerous deleted scenes and audition clips and a music video, "Save Yourself." One of the funniest, most intriguing commentaries is by stars Shiri Appleby (Liz) and Majandra Delina (Maria), who was just 17 when she began the series. It's worth the price of the collection alone! Enjoy! Enjoy!

LOST IN TRANSLATION
Universal Home Video

- Director Sofia Coppola proves that she is an astonish young talent with her latest film which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. This unusual love story between to married Americans who are stuck in a Tokyo hotel without the cherished attention of their beloved spouses is one of the best 'fish-out-water' tales ever conceived. Bill Murray stars as a veteran actor who has come to Japan to do a series of liquor commercials for an obscene amount of money. He's surrounded by a polite Japanese staff none of whom speaks English. He's immediately isolated and lonely and his wife tells him that while kids miss him, she does not. Also in the hotel, is a pretty young wife (Scarlett Johansson) of a rock photographer who spends all of his time working and doesn't even seem comfortable with his wife the few times they share a meal or conversation. She is bored by the people who people his world and lonely even though she tries to keep busy because she hasn't quite decided what to do with her own life. When these two people meet, it is like a breath of fresh air for them and they begin to share their emotional turmoil in this far away place. What's remarkable is that this isn't your typical love affair, there is no physical relationship but a marvelous connection of spirit and thought. They talk about their marriages, their spouses and how to survive in a city that is so strange to them. The film is touching and hilarious as the actor tries to interpret direction or his experience on a popular TV show. Meanwhile, the brainy young wife dismisses her husband's cohorts and their lust for attention. And yet she wants attention, too. This is a wonderfully funny film.

The disc includes a behind the scenes glimpse of Coppola's casual filming style. She and her crew did not have permits to shot in many locations and had to quickly set up, film and dash before the Japanese police arrived. The location shooting is just as exciting as the actual film because you see Americans and Japanese interacting and dealing with culture clashes and misunderstandings. There are also deleted scenes, a music video and a conversation with Coppola and Murray. Absolutely wonderful!

STAR TREK VOYAGER
Paramount Home Entertainment

- I have to hand it to the Star Trek producers Rick Berman, Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor for coming up with a new series, new characters and new adventures. "Star Trek: Voyager" is an exciting new premise: Captain Kathryn Janeway, her crew and a renegade band of space travelers become stranded of the far side of the galaxy and form a bond to get home. Each episode entails that they discover something new about themselves, deal with dangerous and wondrous discovers on new planets or space ships and keep their ship full equipped and operating. The crew constitutes of a Vulcan security chief Tuvak (Tim Russ), pilot Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), Operations Officer Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), the captain of the Maquis crew, Chadatay (Robert Beltran), a half-Klingon B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), Neelex (Ethan Phillips) and a holographic doctor (Robert Ricardo). There is a lot of angst and humor in every episode.

The 5-disc set all 15 original broadcast episodes, an in dept look at the fantastic visual effects, cast interviews and creative interviews, information about the web site and much much more. It's easy to see why Star Trek continues to gather new fans for each generation!

COPS: CAUGHT IN THE ACT, COPS: BAD GIRLS & COPS: SHOTS FIRED
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

- It may be surprising but these DVDs of the popular network true crime show are hypnotic! Frankly, I wasn't looking forward to viewing these DVDs but I found that I couldn't stop watching as real-life cops in small town and big city America patrolled their beats and arrested ordinary people after committing crimes, behaving badly or just being stupid. The cops are mostly the same dedicated civil servants who love being charge but they also display more humanity than you see on the streets. The true gem of the "Cops" DVDs are the intimate glimpses into the ordinarily American psyche. People who drink and discover that it can't make their problems fade. Petty robbery, lying and the reckless disregard for the law is paramount. A woman driving around without a license plate on her car filled with kids turns out to be a major drug dealer. A truck driver who claims to be a robbery victim is really seeking revenge against a prostitute. And, people scurrying, racing around neighborhoods at night looking for mischief. Real life situations that are fascinating to watch! Now I know why this show is a hit on TV

Edited by Veronica Mixon
images courtesy of Columbia TrStar, Dimension, MGM, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal.

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