Selected home-video releases:
“Elf” – Will Ferrell proves that Santa’s helpers come in all sizes. Last year’s holiday smash stars Ferrell as a towering human, raised among Santa (Ed Asner) and the little people at the North Pole, who spreads childlike Christmas cheer on a journey to New York City to find his real dad (James Caan). The two-disc set has a load of games and behind-the-scenes background aimed at young fans, including sing-alongs on some Christmas songs and a set tour by Ferrell. There also are some cute featurettes on people who obsess on holiday decorations and Santa Claus. Ferrell provides audio commentary, while director Jon Favreau contributes separate commentary for the full movie and deleted and alternate scenes. DVD set, $29.95. (New Line)
“The Chronicles of Riddick” – Vin Diesel’s science-fiction adventure, a followup to his mini-hit “Pitch Black,” was an entirely unnecessary sequel given its overblown action, shallow characters and absurd visual style. Even more unnecessary is the DVD director’s cut, which adds 14 minutes, padding an already bloated cinematic mess to well over two hours. Diesel plays an outlaw drawn into the fight against an evil overlord. DVD extras include five minutes of additional deleted footage and commentary by director David Twohy. The theatrical version also is available, if you want to save 14 minutes of your life. DVD, $29.98. (Universal)
“The Iron Giant” – A more pleasing sci-fi entry on the Vin Diesel front is this DVD update for 1999’s engaging animated tale from filmmaker Brad Bird, who wrote and directed “The Incredibles.” Diesel provides the voice for a behemoth robot that falls from the sky and is befriended by a boy who protects his metallic buddy from hostile government forces. The DVD has eight deleted scenes including an alternate opening, with introductions by Bird, plus a huge range of featurettes on design and development of the film. DVD, $19.97. (Warner Bros.)
“Fanny and Alexander” – Ingmar Bergman’s 1983 autobiographical masterpiece drawn from his family history comes to DVD in grand fashion. Told from the viewpoint of a 10-year-old boy, the film examines the joys and anguishes of a family in early 20th century Sweden. Fans can opt for the comprehensive five-disc version, which includes the three-hour theatrical release, a five-hour TV miniseries version and Bergman’s two-hour making-of documentary, or a two-disc release with just the theatrical version, which is accompanied by commentary from Bergman expert Peter Cowie. The five-disc set also has an hour-long TV special from 1984 in which Bergman discusses his decision to make “Fanny and Alexander” his farewell to film (after that he focused on television films). Five-disc set, $59.95; two-disc set, $29.95. (Criterion)
“Short Cuts” – Robert Altman’s 1993 saga is the ultimate ensemble flick, with a gargantuan cast that includes Jack Lemmon, Andie MacDowell, Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Lyle Lovett. Based on the short stories of Raymond Carver, the three-hour film loosely connects a series of portraits of characters facing emotional crises. This great new DVD set features a conversation between Altman and Robbins (who also starred in Altman’s “The Player”), a 90-minute making-of documentary, deleted footage and an interview with the late Carver. The really nice touch: A paperback companion collection of Carver’s stories. DVD set, $39.95. (Criterion)
TV on DVD:
“Live Aid” – The 1985 concert marathon broadcast worldwide to raise money and awareness for famine victims in Africa is presented in a four-disc set featuring Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Mick Jagger, the Who, the Pretenders and dozens more. The set includes a BBC documentary produced a year later at the request of organizer Bob Geldof to chronicle the effort and how the money was used. DVD set, $39.99. (WSM)
“Frasier: The Complete Final Season” – The last 23 episodes of Kelsey Grammer’s “Cheers” spinoff, which ended its 11-year run this year, debuts in a four-disc set, accompanied by a couple of farewell featurettes. Distributor Paramount apparently wants to strike while the final season is fresh in viewers’ memories, since so far, only the first three seasons of “Frasier” are out on DVD. DVD set, $59.99. (Paramount)
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Seventh Season” – The farewell season for Sarah Michelle Gellar’s hip demon-hunting series arrives in a six-disc set with 22 episodes, including commentary on some by creator Joss Whedon and collaborators. There also are featurettes on wrapping the series. DVD set, $59.98. (20th Century Fox)
“Smallville: The Complete Third Season” – Young Clark Kent continues to unravel the mysteries of his Krypton powers and his destiny as Superman. The six-disc set has year three’s 22 episodes, highlighted by another guest appearance by big-screen Superman Christopher Reeve. DVD set, $59.98. (Warner Bros.)
“The Andy Griffith Show: The Complete First Season” – A sit-com from a kinder, gentler era. Andy Griffith stars as the wise sheriff of Mayberry, a widower with a precocious son (Ron Howard) and an ever-exasperated deputy (Don Knotts). The four-disc set has 32 episodes from the 1960 debut season. DVD set, $38.99. (Paramount)
“The Commish: Complete First Season” – Before he became a morally shaky crime fighter on “The Shield,” Michael Chiklis starred as an ex-Brooklyn cop transplanted to police chief in a small city in this 1990s series. The first 21 episodes are included on six discs, with new interviews from Chiklis and co-creator Stephen J. Cannell. DVD set, $59.98. (Anchor Bay)
“Pee-wee’s Playhouse” – Paul Reubens took his Pee-wee Herman act to the small screen with this visually wild Saturday morning kiddie show that debuted in 1986. The series comes to DVD in two five-disc sets, volume one packing the 23 episodes from season one and two, volume two containing the 22 episodes from seasons three, four and five. DVD sets, $49.99 each. (Image)
“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” – This week’s camp quotient is filled by the entire run of the short-lived sci-fi series that debuted in 1979, starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray in an update of the old Hollywood serials about the future wayfarer. The five-disc set has the complete 32 episodes. DVD set, $89.98. (Universal)
Other new releases:
“Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie” – A big-screen outing for the Japanese cartoon series, comic books and trading-card game. The movie pits hero Yugi against his archrival. The DVD includes two music videos from the movie’s soundtrack. DVD, $27.95. (Warner Bros.)
“The Saddest Music in the World” – An absurdist’s delight from director Guy Maddin. Isabella Rossellini stars as a legless beer baroness in Depression-era Winnipeg who stages an Olympics-style competition to find the world’s saddest tune. DVD extras include three short films by Maddin. DVD, $29.98. (MGM)
“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” – Clive Owen reunites with “Croupier” director Mike Hodges, starring as a former gangster reluctantly resuming his old ways to investigate and avenge the death of his brother, whose demise had been ruled a suicide. DVD, $29.99. (Paramount)
Will Ferrell stars in “Elf,” out today on DVD and video.
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