Foreign classics released on DVD

Published 9:00 pm Monday, September 4, 2006

Selected home-video releases:

“United 93” – Hollywood’s first big-screen dramatization of the Sept. 11 attacks is one of the year’s best films, yet it’s almost unbearable to watch.

Using a cast of unknowns that lends an authentic sense of the strangers-on-a-plane feeling of air flight, director Paul Greengrass re-creates the plight of doomed passengers aboard one of the four hijacked jets. The film’s documentary style makes it seem as though viewers are watching the actual events surrounding Flight 93, the plane that crashed in rural Pennsylvania, killing all aboard, after passengers fought back against the terrorists.

A single DVD release includes a documentary segment with interviews from passengers’ families, who gave their blessing to Greengrass’ film. The disc also has biographical capsules of the 40 passengers and crew members who died on the flight, plus commentary from Greengrass.

A two-disc set also includes a documentary segment on the air-traffic controllers and military personnel coordinating the response to the hijackings. Single DVD, $29.98; two-disc set, $30.98. (Universal)

“The Seven Samurai” – The previous single-disc Criterion release of Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece came with minimal extras. A new three-disc set has a new digital transfer of the 31/2-hour version of the 1954 film that was the basis for “The Magnificent Seven,” following a group of mercenary samurai hired by villagers to protect their town from marauders.

Accompanying the film are a great range of background documentaries, including a two-hour conversation with Kurosawa from 1993 and a making-of segment. The set also has two commentary tracks featuring a group of film experts and a booklet with essays by and conversations with critics, filmmakers and frequent Kurosawa star Toshiro Mifune. DVD set, $49.95. (Criterion)

“Amarcord,” “Playtime” – Two playful films satirizing serious matters get fabulous two-disc makeovers with new digital transfers.

Federico Fellini’s 1973 tale “Amarcord” applies the filmmaker’s carnival visual style to a portrait of the longings, family ties and politics of his youth in fascist Italy. Jacques Tati’s 1967 masterpiece “Playtime” features the director’s comic hero Monsieur Hulot in a manic romp through the confusions and convulsions of modern times in Paris.

Both films are accompanied by commentary from film scholars, while “Playtime” comes with an introduction by Tati admirer Terry Jones of the Monty Python troupe, and “Amarcord” includes a deleted scene. The sets come with interviews with the filmmakers and collaborators, plus background documentaries.

“Amarcord” also has a booklet featuring a lengthy Fellini recollection of his hometown that was something of a blueprint for the film. DVD sets, $39.95 each. (Criterion)

TV on DVD

“Commander in Chief: Inaugural Edition – Part 2” – After inheriting the White House, President Geena Davis continues her battles as the nation’s first female president, squaring off against the wily House speaker (Donald Sutherland) who’s angling for her job. A two-disc set has the final eight of season one’s 18 episodes, along with deleted scenes and Davis’ reflections on the notion of a woman as president. $29.99. (Disney)

“Lost: The Complete Second Season” – The castaways from a plane crash uncover fresh mysteries about their home, strike up new attachments and rivalries, and encounter the menacing others who share the island. Features include a segment with viewers and the show’s overseers discussing the fan mania about the series’ conspiracy theories. $59.99. (Disney)

“Supernatural: The Complete First Season” – Two brothers take up the family business – hunting paranormal evil – as they try to find out what happened to their vanished father. With commentary on two episodes, deleted scenes and two features. $59.98. (Warner Bros.)

“Broken Trail” – Robert Duvall is back in the saddle for this Western miniseries about a rancher and his nephew (Thomas Haden Church) whose horse drive is interrupted when they become protectors to five Chinese girls condemned to prostitution. $28.96. (Sony)

“Family: The Complete First and Second Seasons” – The domestic drama that debuted in 1976 is back with a cast including James Broderick, Sada Thompson, Meredith Baxter Birney and Kristy McNichol. $49.95. (Sony)

“Oz: The Complete Sixth Season” – Violence and vengeance still rule at Oswald prison as the series concludes. Series creator Tom Fontana and cast members provide commentary, and the set includes deleted scenes and an extended version of the series finale. $64.98. (HBO)

“The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Fourth Season” – Television’s favorite shrink is back. $29.98. (20th Century Fox)

“The Flintstones: The Complete Sixth Season” – The prehistoric world’s answer to “The Honeymooners” closes with the last 26 episodes of the cartoon series. $44.98. (Warner Bros.)

“Fraggle Rock: Complete Second Season” – The Muppet-like denizens of a weird underground realm return in year two of Jim Henson’s family series. $49.98. (20th Century Fox)