Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Warner DVD

- The 3rd film in the Harry Potter series is the darkest story as Harry and his friends deal with life as teenagers. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is still an outcast at his uncle's house and while he still aches for his dead parents, Harry's anger is slowly emerging. He and his best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) return to Hogwarts as news of the escape of a dangerous criminal, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). Harry learns that Black was close to his parents and was named as his godfather before betraying them. So, everyone thinks that Harry's life is in danger.

Meanwhile, the newest teacher, Prof. Lupin (David Thewlis) befriends Harry as he instructs the students on dealing with the darkest arts. As new clues about his parents, their colleagues emerge, Harry discovers new magical secrets.

Frankly, the first Harry Potter film is my favorite and this edition is my least favorite. However, Harry's anger and the possibility of a growing romance between Ron and Hermione hint at things to come. The kids have grown up and since they are teenagers, they're much more emotional. Director Alfonso Cuaron brings an imaginative, spooky vision to the series. The film is less playful and Cuaron handles the dense plot seamlessly.

The two-disc DVD has tons of extra features including some funny, interesting interviews with the cast including Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy by Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken Head Lead Raucous; director Cuaron, former director Chris Columbus and Harry Potter creator J. K. Rowling. There are several games; interactive tours of Harry's favorite places; DVD-ROM PC features; trailers of all three films and a wonderful behind-the-scenes featurette of the Creation of Buckbeak and the Dementors. This is an awesome DVD and fans will be absolutely delighted.

Lost in Space Season Two: Volume One and Two
Twenieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

- This classic sci-fi series was one of two television shows ("Star Trek" was the other show) that featured a cast gliding around space exploring new worlds. The unique thing about "Lost in Space" was that while its visual setting was still set in a fifties sci-fi style when the genre became popular in pulp comics, books and movies, the show was laced with an extra element -- comedy!

Just imagine, a series had 28 shows for a complete season! The show consisted on a family headed by Guy Williams (who starred in Disney's "Zorro") and the mom from "Lassie," June Lockhart. They were traveling with two daughters, a son, Will Robinson (played by ), a handsome navigator and a scientists, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), who was the season villian. Harris was a NY theater actor with polite diction made the flamboyant character his own and greedy, devious, cowardly Dr. Smith was soon played for laughs.

The stories were derived from a colorful array of ghosts, monsters and weird space travellers. There were guest stars like veteran actor John Carradine, who appeared as a blue alien. Director Irwin Allen also gave the show a unique look -- the cast wore vibrant colors and the monsters were also in techno-color too.

Unlike the other show, which reflected the vast cultural and political changes in the 1960s, "Lost in Space" was a valentine to a time passing into history. The cast was all white, consisted of a traditional family and chaste friendships. Viewing the series now, it's an acquired taste depending on your interest in sci-fi TV fiction. It's a quaint and innocent. Jonathan Harris seems to be the long lost uncle to Jack on "Will and Grace." But, many people like it because it does hark back to a different era.

Each volume consists of four discs of 14 show. Unfortunately, there is no behind-the-scenes featurette or information about the creation of the show. Volume Two has a wonderful extra feature" radio interviews of Guy Williams, June Lockhart and Jonathan Harris recorded back in the day. It's fascinating because "Lost in Space" was one of the early television series and the actors didn't know if the show would be a success. These volumes are for fans and possibly young viewers discovering the show for the first time.

Winnie the Pooh: 123's and Winnie the Pooh ABC's
Disney DVD

- These two delightful DVDs will entertain kids between ages 2 and 5 while educating them. Winnie the Pooh and his friends teach young kids their numbers and alphabet using song and great visuals. They use number and letter recognition, introduces phonics, number sequencing, memorization techniques, etc. These discs make learning an exciting adventure. Parents and kids will love these wonderful DVDs.

Edited by Veronica Mixon
images courtesy of Warner.

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