Crtic Cinema Video Library

You Are Here: Critic Cinema > Video Library > Sci-Fi Titles

12 Monkeys
.
Starring: Willis, Bruce Stowe, Madeleine Pitt, William Bradley Stowe, Madeleine Plummer, Christopher Melito, Joseph Morse, David Chance, Michael Chance, Michael Walls, H. Michael
.
Director: Gilliam, Terry	Rating: R	Running Time: 129 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Inspired by Chris Marker's acclaimed short film La JetŽe (which is included on the DVD Short 2: Dreams), 12 Monkeys combines intricate, intelligent storytelling with the uniquely imaginative vision of director Terry Gilliam. The story opens in the wintry wasteland of the year 2035, where a virulent plague has forced humans to live in a squalid, oppressively regimented underground. Bruce Willis plays a societal outcast who is given the opportunity to erase his criminal record by "volunteering" to time-travel into the past to obtain a pure sample of the deadly virus that will help future scientists to develop a cure. But in bouncing from 1918 to the early and mid-1990s, he undergoes an ordeal that forces him to question his own perceptions of reality. Caught between the dangers of the past and the devastation of the future, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) who is initially convinced he's insane, and a wacky mental patient (Brad Pitt in a twitchy Oscar-nominated role) with links to a radical group that may have unleashed the deadly virus. Equal parts mystery, tragedy, psychological thriller, and apocalyptic drama, 12 Monkeys ranks as one of the best science fiction films of the '90s, boosted by Gilliam's visual ingenuity and one of the finest performances of Willis's career. The Collector's Edition DVD includes a fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary (The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of 12 Monkeys) in addition to the theatrical trailer, production notes, and a 12 Monkeys archive of still photos, design concepts, and storyboards. --Jeff Shannon From the Back Cover A lone time traveler from the year 2035 must solve a riddle that may save his people...but it may also take him to the brink of madness. Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt star in this brilliant sci-fi masterpiece from Terry Gilliam, the acclaimed director of The Fisher King. After the world's population is devastated by a killer virus, survivors must live in dank underground communities. Cole (Willis) "volunteers" to travel into the past to obtain a pure virus sample, thereby... read more

2001: A Space Odyssey
.
Starring: Dullea, Keir Lockwood, Gary Lockwood, Gary Richter, Daniel Rossiter, Leonard Beatty, Robert Beatty, Robert Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Sean Miller, Frank
.
Director: Kubrick, Stanley	Rating: G	Running Time: 155 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. Additional Features EDITOR'S NOTE: According to a Warner Home Video technician involved in the production of The Stanley Kubrick Collection, Kubrick authorized all aspects of the Collection, from the use of Digital Component Video (or "D-1") masters originally approved in 1989, to the use of minimalist screen menus, chapter stops, and (in the case of 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining on DVD) supplementary materials. Full-screen presentation of The Shining and Full Metal Jacket was also approved by Kubrick, who... read more

2001: A Space Odyssey
.
Starring: Dullea, Keir Lockwood, Gary Lockwood, Gary Richter, Daniel Rossiter, Leonard Beatty, Robert Beatty, Robert Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Sean Miller, Frank
.
Director: Kubrick, Stanley	Rating: G	Running Time: 159 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

2010
.
Starring: Scheider, Roy Lithgow, John Lithgow, John Balaban, Bob Mirren, Helen Dullea, Keir Smith-Osborne, Madolyn Elcar, Dana Elcar, Dana McEachin, James
.
Director: Hyams, Peter	Rating: PG	Running Time: 116 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.4/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com No director could ever have hoped to repeat the artistic achievement of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and nobody knew that better than Peter Hyams, who made this much more conventional film from the first of three sequel novels by Arthur C. Clarke. Whereas Kubrick made a poetic film of mind-expanding ideas and metaphysical mysteries, Hyams shouldn't be blamed for taking a more practical, crowd-pleasing approach. In revealing much of what Kubrick deliberately left unexplained, 2010 lacks the enigmatic awe of its predecessor, but it's still a riveting tale of space exploration and extraterrestrial contact, beginning when a joint American-Soviet mission embarks to determine the cause of failure of the derelict spaceship Discovery. Having arrived at Discovery near the planet Jupiter, the American mission leader (Roy Scheider) and his Russian counterpart (Helen Mirren) must investigate the apparent failure of the ship's infamous onboard computer, HAL 9000, as well as the meaning of countless mysterious black monoliths amassing on Jupiter's surface (an interpretation Kubrick originally left up to his viewers). Meanwhile, Earth is on the brink of nuclear war, and an apparition of astronaut David Bowman (Keir Dullea) appears to repeatedly promise that "something wonderful" is about to happen. The DVD includes an interview with Arthur C. Clarke, an eight-page booklet, and original trailers for 2001 and 2010. --Jeff Shannon

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Full Screen Special Edition)
.
Starring: Osment, Haley Joel Law, Jude O'Connor, Frances O'Connor, Frances Law, Jude Thomas, Jake Chriqui, Emmanuelle Thomas, Jake Thomas, Jake Campbell, Keith
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 25 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.9/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com History will place an asterisk next to A.I. as the film Stanley Kubrick might have directed. But let the record also show that Kubrick--after developing this project for some 15 years--wanted Steven Spielberg to helm this astonishing sci-fi rendition of Pinocchio, claiming (with good reason) that it veered closer to Spielberg's kinder, gentler sensibilities. Spielberg inherited the project (based on the Brian Aldiss short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long") after Kubrick's death in 1999, and the result is an astounding directorial hybrid. A flawed masterpiece of sorts, in which Spielberg's gift for wondrous enchantment often clashes (and sometimes melds) with Kubrick's harsher vision of humanity, the film spans near and distant futures with the fairy-tale adventures of an artificial boy named David (Haley Joel Osment), a marvel of cybernetic progress who wants only to be a real boy, loved by his mother in that happy place called home. Echoes of Spielberg's Empire of the Sun are clearly heard as young David, shunned by his trial parents and tossed into an unfriendly world, is joined by fellow "mecha" Gigolo Joe (played with a dancer's agility by Jude Law) in his quest for a mother-and-child reunion. Parallels to Pinocchio intensify as David reaches "the end of the world" (a Manhattan flooded by melted polar ice caps), and a far-future epilogue propels A.I. into even deeper realms of wonder, even as it pulls Spielberg back to his comfort zone of sweetness and soothing sentiment. Some may lament the diffusion of Kubrick's original vision, but this is Spielberg's A.I. (complete with one of John Williams's finest scores), a film of astonishing technical wizardry that spans the spectrum of human emotions and offers just enough Kubrick to suggest that humanity's future is anything but guaranteed. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Abyss (Special Edition), The
.
Starring: Harris, Ed Mastrantonio, Mary Elizabeth Graff, Todd Harris, Ed Klek, George Robert Walock, Dick Weeks, Jimmie Ray Scott, Kimberly Scott, Kimberly Klek, George Robert
.
Director: Cameron, James	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 326 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.4/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Meticulously crafted but also ponderous and predictable, James Cameron's 1989 deep-sea close-encounter epic reaffirms one of the oldest first principles of cinema: everything moves a lot more slowly underwater. Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, as formerly married petroleum engineers who still have some "issues" to work out, are drafted to assist a gung-ho Navy SEAL (Michael Biehn) with a top-secret recovery operation: a nuclear sub has been ambushed and sunk, under mysterious circumstances, in some of the deepest waters on earth, and the petro-techies have the only submersible craft capable of diving down that far. Every image and every performance is painstakingly sharp and detailed (and the computerized water creatures are lovely) but the movie's lumbering pace is ultimately lethal. It's the audience that ends up feeling waterlogged. For a guy who likes guns as much as Cameron (his next film after all, was the body-count masterpiece Terminator 2: Judgment Day), it's interesting that the moral balance here is weighted heavily in favor of the can-do engineers; the military types are end-justifies-the-means amoralists, just like the weasely government bureaucrats in Aliens. --David Chute --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Alien
.
Starring: Skerritt, Tom Weaver, Sigourney Weaver, Susan Alexandra Hurt, John Holm, Ian Cuthbert, Ian Holm Stanton, Harry Dean Cartwright, Veronica Cartwright, Veronica Skerritt, Tom
.
Director: Scott, Ridley	Rating: R	Running Time: 116 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video A landmark of science fiction and horror, Alien arrived in 1979 between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back as a stylishly malevolent alternative to George Lucas's space fantasy. Partially inspired by 1958's It! The Terror from Beyond Space, this instant classic set a tone of its own, offering richly detailed sets, ominous atmosphere, relentless suspense, and a flawless ensemble cast as the crew of the space freighter Nostromo, who fall prey to a vicious creature (designed by Swiss artist H.R. Giger) that had gestated inside one of the ill-fated crew members. In a star-making role, Sigourney Weaver excels as sole survivor Ripley, becoming the screen's most popular heroine in a lucrative movie franchise. To measure the film's success, one need only recall the many images that have been burned into our collective psyche, including the "facehugger," the "chestburster," and Ripley's climactic encounter with the full-grown monster. Impeccably directed by Ridley Scott, Alien is one of the cinema's most unforgettable nightmares. --Jeff Shannon

Alien 3
.
Starring: Weaver, Sigourney Glover, Brian Dance, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Henriksen, Lance McGann, Paul Webb, Daniel Fields, Christopher John Fields, Christopher John Henriksen, Lance
.
Director: Fincher, David	Rating: R	Running Time: 114 min / 145 min (2003 Special
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.0/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com The least successful film in this series was directed by stylemaster (and content-underachiever) David Fincher. Ripley, the only survivor of her past mission, awakens on a prison planet in the far corners of the solar system. As she tries to recover, she realizes that not only has an alien gotten loose on the planet, the alien has implanted one of its own within her. As she battles the prison authorities (and is aided by the prisoners) in trying to kill the alien, she must also cope with a distinctly shortened lifespan that awaits her. But the striking imagery makes for muddled action and the script confuses it further. The ending looks startling but it takes a long time--and a not particularly satisfying journey--to get there. --Marshall Fine

Alien Resurrection
.
Starring: Weaver, Sigourney Ryder, Winona Ryder, Winona Pinon, Dominique Perlman, Ron Dourdan, Gary Wincott, Michael Flowers, Kim Flowers, Kim Freeman, J.E.
.
Director: Jeunet, Jean-Pierre	Rating: R	Running Time: 108 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.0/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Perhaps these films are like the Star Trek movies: The even-numbered episodes are the best ones. Certainly this film (directed by French stylist Jean-Pierre Jeunet) is an improvement over Alien 3, with a script that breathes exciting new life into the franchise. This chapter is set even further in the future, where scientists on a space colony have cloned both the alien and Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who died in Alien 3; in doing so, however, they've mixed alien DNA with Ripley's human chromosomes, which gives Ripley surprising power (and a bad attitude). A band of smugglers comes aboard only to discover the new race of aliens--and when the multi-mouthed melonheads get loose, no place is safe. But, on the plus side, they have Ripley as a guide to help them get out. Winona Ryder is on hand as the smugglers' most unlikely crew member (with a secret of her own), but this one is Sigourney's all the way. --Marshall Fine

Aliens (Special Edition)
.
Starring: Weaver, Sigourney Biehn, Michael Henn, Carrie Biehn, Michael Reiser, Paul Henriksen, Lance Paxton, Bill Matthews, Al Matthews, Al Rolston, Mark
.
Director: Cameron, James	Rating: R	Running Time: 154 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Aliens is one of the few cases of a sequel that far surpassed the original. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, who awakens on Earth only to discover that she has been hibernating in space so long that everyone she knows is dead. Then she is talked into traveling (along with a squad of Marines) to a planet under assault by the same aliens that nearly killed her. Once she gets there, she finds a lost little girl who triggers her maternal instincts--and she discovers that the company has once again double-crossed her, in hopes of capturing one of the aliens to study as a military weapon. Directed and written by James Cameron, this is one of the most intensely exciting (not to mention intensely frightening) action films ever, with a large ensemble cast that includes Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, and Michael Biehn. Weaver defined the action woman in this film and walked away with an Oscar nomination for her trouble. --Marshall Fine --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features The Director's Cut of Aliens includes 17 minutes of bonus footage. The added scenes are intermittently spread out through the film, fleshing out certain characters and plot. Included is a much-needed explanation of what happened to the colony, LV-426 (the decimated planetary outpost the Space Marines are sent to). In addition, there is more focus on the emotional state of Ripley (Signourey Weaver) after she is awoken following 60 years of space hibernation--only to find that all the people she... read more

Andromeda Strain, The
.
Starring: Hill, Arthur Olson, James Wayne, David Reid, Kate Kelly, Paula Mitchell, George Bieri, Ramon Murdock, Kermit Murdock, Kermit Christmas, Eric
.
Director: Wise, Robert	Rating: G	Running Time: 130 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists racing against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth. As usual with any Crichton-based movie, the emphasis is on an exciting clash between nature and science, beginning when virologists discover the outer-space virus in a tiny town full of corpses. Projecting total contamination, the scientists isolate the deadly strain in a massive, high-tech underground lab facility, which is rigged for nuclear destruction if the virus is not successfully controlled. The movie spends a great deal of time covering the scientific procedures of the high-pressure investigation, and the rising tensions between scientists who have been forced to work in claustrophobic conditions. It's all very fascinating if you're interested in scientific method and technological advances, although the film is obviously dated in many of its details. It's more effective as a thriller in which tension is derived not only from the deadly threat of the virus, but from the escalating fear and anxiety among the small group of people who've been assigned to save the human race. The basic premise is still captivating; it's easy to see how this became the foundation of Crichton's science-thriller empire. --Jeff Shannon Description When a satellite falls to earth near a remote New Mexico village, the recovery team finds everyone in the area dead except an infant and an old derelict. The survivors are brought to a five-story underground lab, where scientists attempt to determine the nature of the deadly microbe before it starts a world-wide epidemic. From the novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park).

Armageddon -- Criterion Collection
.
Starring: Willis, Bruce Thornton, Billy Bob Tyler, Liv Bob Thornton, Billy Stewart, Charles David, Keith Clarke Duncan, Michael Wilson, Owen Wilson, Owen Buscemi, Steve
.
Director: Bay, Michael	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 33 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.7/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video The latest testosterone-saturated blow-'em-up from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay (The Rock, Bad Boys) continues Hollywood's millennium-fueled fascination with the destruction of our planet. There's no arguing that the successful duo understands what mainstream American audiences want in their blockbuster movies--loads of loud, eye-popping special effects, rapid-fire pacing, and patriotic flag waving. Bay's protagonists--the eight crude, lewd, oversexed (but lovable, of course) oil drillers summoned to save the world from a Texas-sized meteor hurling toward the earth--are not flawless heroes, but common men with whom all can relate. In this huge Western-in-space soap opera, they're American cowboys turned astronauts. Sci-fi buffs will appreciate Bay's fetishizing of technology, even though it's apparent he doesn't understand it as anything more than flashing lights and shiny gadgets. Smartly, the duo also tries to lure the art-house crowd, raiding the local indie acting stable and populating the film with guys like Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson, and Michael Duncan, all adding needed touches of humor and charisma. When Bay applies his sledgehammer aesthetics to the action portions of the film, it's mindless fun; it's only when Armageddon tackles humanity that it becomes truly offensive. Not since Mississippi Burning have racial and cultural stereotypes been substituted for characters so blatantly--African Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Scottish, Samoans, Muslims, French ... if it's not white and American, Bay simplifies it. Or, make that white male America; the film features only three notable females--four if you count the meteor, who's constantly referred to as a "bitch that needs drillin'," but she's a hell of a lot more developed and unpredictable than the other women characters combined. Sure, Bay's film creates some tension and contains some visceral moments, but if he can't create any redeemable characters outside of those in space, what's the point of saving the planet? --Dave McCoy Description Bruce Willis and and an all-star cast of roughneck oil drillers blast off on a mission to save the planet in Michael Bay's doomsday space epic.

Battle For The Planet Of The Apes
.
Starring: McDowall, Roddy Williams, Paul
.
Director:	Rating: G	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Stereo

Beneath The Planet Of The Apes
.
Starring: Franciscus, James Heston, Charlton
.
Director:	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Stereo

Blob, The
.
Starring: McQueen, Steve Corsaut, Aneta Rowe, Earl Howlin, Olin Chase, Alden 'Stephen' Benson, John Karas, George Paton, Lee Paton, Lee Graham, Hugh
.
Director: Jr., Irvin S. Yeaworth	Rating: PG	Running Time: 82 min
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video What would the average sensible American do if he encountered a pulsing ball of protoplasm from outer space? That's right: he'd poke it with a stick. Thus begins the endearingly earnest and silly tale of The Blob. Young Steve McQueen takes on his first leading role as, um, Steve, a spunky teenager with plenty of heart. Steve sees the blob kill the local doc, but darn it, none of the town's adults will believe him! Yup, it's up to the teens to save the day! Steve and his trusty girlfriend Jane break their curfews(!) and head off into the night to find the Blob and warn the town. The Blob is a completely enjoyable watch from start to finish, offering the triple pleasures of 1950s morals, gee-whiz acting, and a whole lotta extras running around and screaming. The special effects, though primitive, certainly get the job done, and it is still a treat to watch the Blob ooze its way to its next meal. You may notice that the theme song is surprisingly bouncy for a horror flick ("Beware of the Blob! It creeps, and leaps, and glides and slides across the floor"). It was written by Hal David and a fresh young composer by the name of Burt Bacharach. --Ali Davis --This text refers to the DVD edition.

Brazil - Criterion Collection
.
Starring: Niro, De Pryce Greist, Kim Holm, Ian Hoskins, Bob Palin, Michael Richardson, Ian Vaughan, Peter Vaughan, Peter Broadbent, Jim
.
Director: Gilliam, Terry	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 22 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.0/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director--oh, and a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus--this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreant. The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself--until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. This DVD version of Brazil is the special director's cut that first appeared in Criterion's comprehensive (and expensive) six-disc laser package in 1996. --Jim Emerson Description Pitting the imagination of a common man against the oppressive storm troopers of the Ministry of Information, this bitter parable for the Information Age is more relevant than ever. Gathering footage from both the European and American versions, Terry Gilliam has assembled the ultimate 142-minute director's cut of his most celebrated film, then annotated it with a shot-by-shot commentary on an alternate audio channel.

The Chronicles of Riddick
.
Starring: Diesel, Vin Feore, Colm Newton, Thandie Davalos, Alexa Urban, Karl Chinlund, Nick Diesel, Vin Wageningen, Yorick van Wageningen, Yorick van David, Keith
.
Director: Twohy, David N.	Rating: NR	Running Time: 2 Hours 14 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound

Barnes & Noble This ambitious follow-up to Pitch Black eschews the original's stylish minimalism and character-driven plotting in favor of lavish production values that include opulent settings, state-of-the-art special effects, and elaborate action sequences. Writer-director David Twohy once again builds a futuristic narrative around Riddick (Vin Diesel), the amoral ex-con fated to wind up in dangerous situations on faraway planets. This time he's pitted against the evil Lord Marshal (Colm Feore) and the Necromongers, a quasi-religious cult bent on killing or converting all humans. Riddick is torn between Aereon (Judi Dench), the benevolent ambassador of a race of elementals, and Dame Vaako (Thandie Newton), a power-hungry, manipulative Necromonger who would love to see her husband in Marshal's shoes. Twohy borrows story elements from numerous sci-fi books, most notably Frank Herbert's Dune, but synthesizes them to create a substantially original concept. Riddick is still the tough, taciturn outsider, forced to participate in a crusade he'd just as soon ignore; Diesel imbues him with the same brutish charisma the character exhibited in Pitch Black, and the sequel backs him up with a more accomplished cast. Some critics have suggested that Chronicles is a bloated, pretentious bore, but we disagree: It's certainly not in the same vein as Pitch Black, but why should it be? Twohy, Diesel, and company clearly wanted to produce something different, something with epic proportions and real dramatic heft. In our view they have succeeded handily. Ed Hulse All Movie Guide Vin Diesel returns as the nocturnally gifted antihero Riddick in this sequel to the 2000 cult item Pitch Black. Riddick, on the run from the law and evading mercenaries eager to claim the price on his head, seeks refuge on the planet of Helion, only to discover he's walked into a world in chaos. Helion has been seized by the Lord Marshall (Colm Feore), leader of the Necromongers, a race of bloodthirsty warriors determined to wipe out humanity throughout the universe. Aeron (Judi Dench), leader of Helion's "elementals," pleads with Riddick to join them in their fight for survival; Riddick agrees, hoping to fill out some of the blank chapters in his history along the way. As he plots his battle strategy against the Necromongers, Riddick becomes reacquainted with Kyra (Alexa Davalos), whom he knew as a girl but has since grown into a strong and beautiful woman eager to join him in the fight against the Lord Marshall. Mark Deming PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL NOTES: Presentation: Wide Screen Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound Features: Audio commentary with writer-director David Twohy and actors Karl Urban and Alexa Davalos; deleted scenes; virtual guide to The Chronicles of Riddick; "Toombs' Chase Log," "Riddick Insider," and "Visual Effects Revealed" featurettes; "Vin Diesel's Guided Tour"; interactive 360¡ view of the sets; Xbox game demo; DVD-ROM features. Language: English Editions: Director's Cut Time: 2 Hours 14 Minutes

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
.
Starring: Dreyfuss, Richard Truffaut, Franois Garr, Teri McNamara, Pat Balaban, Bob Blossom, Roberts Dillon, Melinda Weathers, Carl Weathers, Carl Kemmerling, Warren
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG	Running Time: 2 Hours 17 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com essential video Anybody who has written him off because of his string of stinkers--or anybody who's too young to remember The Goodbye Girl--may be shocked at the accomplishment and nuance of Richard Dreyfuss's performance in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Here, he plays a man possessed; contacted by aliens, he (along with other members of the "chosen") is drawn toward the site of the incipient landing: Devil's Tower, in rural Wyoming. As in many Spielberg films, there are no personalized enemies; the struggle is between those who have been called and a scientific establishment that seeks to protect them by keeping them away from the arriving spacecraft. The ship, and the special effects in general, are every bit as jaw-dropping on the small screen as they were in the theater (well, almost). Released in 1977 as a cerebral alternative to the swashbuckling science fiction epics then in vogue, Close Encounters now seems almost wholesome in its representation of alien contact and interested less in philosophizing about extraterrestrials than it is in examining the nature of the inner "call." Ultimately a motion picture about the obsession of the driven artist or determined visionary, Close Encounters comes complete with the stock Spielberg wives and girlfriends who seek to tether the dreamy, possessed protagonists to the more mundane concerns of the everyday. So a spectacular, seminal motion picture indeed, but one with gender politics that are all too terrestrial. --Miles Bethany --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features The Collector's Edition (CE) represents Steven Spielberg's third version of Close Encounters. Created in 1998, this sequence contains most of the judicial edits made for the Special Edition (SE) in 1980, speeding up Roy Neary's first contact with the UFOs and adding a scene of a discovery in the Mongolian desert. The CE also reinstates the comical madness of Neary tearing up his own front yard, replaced in the SE by a scene where he breaks down in the shower; both scenes are restored in... read more

Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes
.
Starring: McDowall, Roddy Montalban, Ricardo
.
Director:	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Stereo

Contact
.
Starring: Foster, Jodie McConaughey, Matthew Woods, James Hurt, John Skerritt, Tom Bassett, Angela Lowe, Rob Fichtner, William Fichtner, William Malone, Jena
.
Director: Zemeckis, Robert	Rating: PG	Running Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video The opening and closing moments of Robert (Forrest Gump) Zemeckis's Contact astonish viewers with the sort of breathtaking conceptual imagery one hardly ever sees in movies these day--each is an expression of the heroine's lifelong quest (both spiritual and scientific) to explore the meaning of human existence through contact with extraterrestrial life. The movie begins by soaring far out into space, then returns dizzyingly to earth until all the stars in the heavens condense into the sparkle in one little girl's eye. It ends with that same girl as an adult (Jodie Foster)--her search having taken her to places beyond her imagination--turning her gaze inward and seeing the universe in a handful of sand. Contact traces the journey between those two visual epiphanies. Based on Carl Sagan's novel, Contact is exceptionally thoughtful and provocative for a big-budget Hollywood science fiction picture, with elements that recall everything from 2001 to The Right Stuff. Foster's solid performance (and some really incredible alien hardware) keep viewers interested, even when the story skips and meanders, or when the halo around the golden locks of rising-star-of-a-different-kind Matthew McConaughey (as the pure-Hollywood-hokum love interest) reaches Milky Way-level wattage. Ambitious, ambiguous, pretentious, unpredictable--Contact is all of these things and more. Much of it remains open to speculation and interpretation, but whatever conclusions one eventually draws, Contact deserves recognition as a rare piece of big-budget studio filmmaking on a personal scale. --Jim Emerson

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
.
Starring: Chow, Yun-Fat Yeoh, Michelle Ziyi, Zhang Fat, Chow Yun Lung, Sihung Li, Li Yeoh, Michelle Ziyi, Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Cheng, Pei Pei
.
Director: Lee, Ang	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other. The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei Description An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Cult Classics - Collection 1
.
Starring: Gerstle, Frank Evers, Herb Evers, Jason Hilligoss, Candace Hopper, Dennis Fisco, Margie
.
Director: Mascelli, Joseph V.	Rating: NR	Running Time: 5 Hours 20 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 2.0/10 (IMDB)	Black & White Stereo

Description 4 Classic horror movies on 2 DVDs Digitally Re-mastered The Atomic Brain (1964) Inside an evil mansion, a mad scientist and an old woman hire three young women as servants. Grave robbing and forced brain transplants by atomic power add to the horror, as the three women are chained...to the devil's love lab! The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1963) A crazed surgeon accidentally decapitates his attractive fiancee. He takes her head to his lab to keep it alive while he searches for a replacement body. But the resurrected head plots revenge - telepathically! Carnival of Souls (1962) A creepy cult film about a woman who manages to survive a car accident. She runs away to Utah and becomes a church arganist. She is then drawn to a ruined pavillion and is haunted by visions of the dancing dead - the eerie reasons eventually become clear. Night Tide (1961) A suspenseful chiller about a sailor (Dennis Hopper) on leave in California who loves an orphan girl working as a mermaid in a seafront sideshow. His father falters when she believes she is descended from sea reatures that must kill when the moon is full.

Daredevil (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Affleck, Ben Garner, Jennifer Farrell, Colin Hodder, Kane O'Connor, Derrick Pantoliano, Joe Avari, Erick Affleck, Ben Affleck, Ben Favreau, Jon
.
Director: Johnson, Mark Steven	Rating: R	Running Time: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Darker than its popular comic-book predecessor Spider-Man, the $80 million extravaganza Daredevil was packaged for maximum global appeal, its juvenile plot beginning when 12-year-old Matt Murdock is accidentally blinded shortly before his father is murdered. Later an adult attorney in New York's Hell's Kitchen, Murdock (Ben Affleck) uses his remaining, superenhanced senses to battle crime as Daredevil, the masked and vengeful "man without fear," pitted against dominant criminal Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) and the psychotic Bullseye (Colin Farrell), who can turn almost anything into a deadly projectile. Daredevil is well matched with the dynamic Elektra (Jennifer Garner), but their teaming is as shallow as the movie itself, which is peppered with Marvel trivia and cameo appearances (creator Stan Lee, Clerks director and Daredevil devotee Kevin Smith) and enough computer-assisted stuntwork to give Spidey a run for his money. This is Hollywood product at its most lavishly vacuous; die-hard fans will argue its merits while its red-leathered hero swoops and zooms toward a sequel. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features The Daredevil two-DVD set has plenty to please both film and comic fans. The best feature is an hourlong collection of interviews of people who worked on the comic book, from Stan Lee to Frank Miller to Kevin Smith. (Yes, sharp-eyed fans: the Elektra-Bullseye showdown was closely based on Daredevil #181.) On the film side, director-screenwriter Mark Steven Johnson and producer Gary Foster's commentary track provides background info and some fawning over Jennifer Garner, a text commentary... read more

Dark Crystal, The
.
Starring: Oz, Frank Henson, Jim Buck, David Dennen, Barry Edwards, Percy Kilgarriff, Michael Maxwell, Lisa Muehl, Brian Muehl, Brian O'Conor, Joseph
.
Director: Kurtz, Gary	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Jim Henson's fantasy epic The Dark Crystal doesn't take place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but like Star Wars it takes the audience to a place that exists only in the imagination and, for an hour and a half, on the screen. Recalling the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, Henson tells the story of a race of grotesque birdlike lizards called the Skeksis, gnomish dragons who rule their fantastic planet with an iron claw. A prophecy tells of a Gelfling (a small elfin being) who will topple their empire, so in their reign of terror they have exterminated the race, or so they think. The orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of peace-loving wizards called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal (which gives the Skeksis their power) and restore the balance of the universe. Henson and codirector Frank Oz have pushed puppetry into a new direction: traditional puppets, marionettes, giant bodysuits, and mechanical constructions are mixed seamlessly in a fantasy world of towering castles, simple huts, dank caves, a giant clockwork observatory, and a magnificent landscape that seem to have leaped off the pages of a storybook. Muppet fans will recognize many of the voice actors--a few characters sound awfully close to familiar comic creations--but otherwise it's a completely alien world made familiar by a mythic quest that resonates through stories over the ages. The DVD features the 50-minute documentary The World of the Dark Crystal, with interviews and illuminating behind-the-scenes glimpses. The VHS edition includes a shortened 15-minute version of the documentary. --Sean Axmaker --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Day the Earth Stood Still, The
.
Starring: Rennie, Michael Neal, Patricia Marlowe, Hugh Jaffe, Sam Bavier, Frances Gray, Billy Rennie, Michael Marlowe, Hugh Marlowe, Hugh Evanson, Edith
.
Director: Wise, Robert	Rating: G	Running Time: 1 Hour 32 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDB)	Black & White Stereo

Amazon.com essential video A hallmark of the science fiction genre as well as a wry commentary on the political climate of the 1950s, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi movie less concerned with special effects than with a social parable. A spacecraft lands in Washington, D.C., carrying a humanoid messenger from another world (Michael Rennie) imparting a warning to the people of Earth to cease their violent behavior. But panic ensues as the messenger lands and is shot by a nervous soldier. His large robot companion destroys the Capitol as the messenger escapes the confines of the hospital. He moves in with a family as a boarder and blends into society to observe the full range of the human experience. Director Robert Wise (West Side Story) not only provides one of the most recognizable icons of the science fiction world in his depiction of the massive robot loyal to his master, but he avoids the obvious camp elements of the story to create a quiet and observant story highlighting both the good and the bad in human nature. --Robert Lane --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Dinosaur - Collector's Edition
.
Starring: Sweeney, D.B. Wright, Samuel E. Davis, Ossie Casella, Max Panettiere, Hayden Wright, Samuel E. Margulies, Julianna Siragusa, Peter Siragusa, Peter Reese, Della
.
Director: Leighton, Eric	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 22 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.3/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Dinosaurs come alive like never before in this costly computer-animated film from Disney. After a breathtaking opening (a dino egg is kidnapped), the film changes style; realistic dinosaurs are given human characteristics and voices. The kidnapped egg grows into an iguanodon named Aladar (voiced by D.B. Sweeney), who is raised by lemurs (shades of Tarzan) on a lush island void of other dinosaurs. When a meteorite destroys their island home in a thrilling sequence, the lemur family and Aladar become part of a dinosaur troop roaming the mainland deserts looking for the lush nesting grounds (shades of the fourth installment of the Land Before Time series and Fantasia). Disney's usual mix of modern language (one lemur calls himself "a love monkey") is present, as is its typical capital punishment law: anyone against our forward-thinking hero (or even disagreeing with him) ends up dead. Curiously, the meanies, a pair of carnotaurs following the group, are nameless and voiceless. This more realistic approach might have been a bigger wow, as in the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs, which looked extraordinary with only a fraction of the budget. The complexity and scope of Dinosaur's visual scale is impressive, and group shots and a point-of-view angle are stunning. Rated PG for general intensity, the film should be a favorite for the 6- to 11-year-old set. --Doug Thomas --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. Additional features The two-disc Collector's Edition speaks directly to the film's core audience: kids and animation enthusiasts. Along with a widescreen version of the film, the first disc is very kid-friendly with two games ("Aladar's Adventure" is quite fun) and an informative short naming the dinosaurs seen in the movie. Using the "Fossil Dig" mode to watch the film, a viewer can see behind-the-scenes footage during certain scenes, as a dinosaur icon appears in the corner of the screen, and then is taken back... read more

Dragonfly (Widescreen)
.
Starring: Costner, Kevin Bates, Kathy Hunt, Linda Rifkin, Ron Erbe, Kathryn Thompson, Susanna Rifkin, Ron Thomas, Jay Thomas, Jay Craven, Matt
.
Director: Shadyac, Tom	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com "Belief gets us there," explains nun Linda Hunt to grieving widower Kevin Costner, an emergency room doctor whose ordered world is startled by "messages" from his dead wife. She's talking about the journey from life to death, but it describes the doctor's road from fact to faith equally well as he puzzles out the otherworldly events of his life. Costner's mourning comes off less lost and sad than simply emotionless and inert, but he finds good support from Kathy Bates as his sassy neighbor. Her appearances, along with a few startling horror-movie-type shocks, energize a film otherwise shrouded in loss, grief, and the hushed mood of supernatural spookiness. It's like a fusing of Ghost, The Sixth Sense, and The Mothman Prophecies, a New Age melodrama in a sentimental key that works through a rather contrived mystic mystery to a glowing climax. This is less a ghost story than a modern twist on the old-fashioned miracle. --Sean Axmaker --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
.
Starring: Thomas, Henry Barrymore, Drew
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com essential video Steven Spielberg's 1982 hit about a stranded alien and his loving relationship with a fatherless boy (Henry Thomas) struck a chord with audiences everywhere, and it furthered Spielberg's reputation as a director of equally strong commercial sensibilities and classical leanings. Henry Thomas gives a strong, emotional performance as E.T.'s young friend, Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore make a solid impression as his siblings, and Dee Wallace is lively as the kids' mother. The special effects almost look a bit quaint now with all the computer advancements that have occurred since, but they also have more heart behind them than a lot of what we see today. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features Universal pulled a fast one when they placed both the 1982 and 2002 versions of E.T. on this standard DVD release. The result is an excellent two-disc set that contains nearly all of the material on the higher-priced ultimate edition (minus the handsome packaging). On the disc one bonus menu, you must play through the two-minute introduction to see a short on the 2002 premiere of the film that was accompanied by John Williams conducting a live orchestra. There is an option to see the film with... read more

Edward Scissorhands
.
Starring: Depp, Johnny Ryder, Winona Wiest, Dianne Depp, Johnny Larkin, Bryan Wiest, Dianne Baker, Kathy Jones, O-Lan Jones, O-Lan Jones, O-Lan
.
Director: Burton, Tim	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.6/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Edward Scissorhands achieves the nearly impossible feat of capturing the delicate flavor of a fable or fairy tale in a live-action movie. The story follows a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by an inventor (Vincent Price, in one of his last roles) who died before he could give the poor creature a pair of human hands. Edward lives alone in a ruined Gothic castle that just happens to be perched above a pastel-colored suburb inhabited by breadwinning husbands and frustrated housewives straight out of the 1950s. One day, Peg (Dianne Wiest), the local Avon lady, comes calling. Finding Edward alone, she kindly invites him to come home with her, where she hopes to help him with his pasty complexion and those nasty nicks he's given himself with his razor-sharp fingers. Soon Edward's skill with topiary sculpture and hair design make him popular in the neighborhood--but the mood turns just as swiftly against the outsider when he starts to feel his own desires, particularly for Peg's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Most of director Tim Burton's movies (such as Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman) are visual spectacles with elements of fantasy, but Edward Scissorhands is more tender and personal than the others. Edward's wild black hair is much like Burton's, suggesting that the character represents the director's own feelings of estrangement and co-option. Johnny Depp, making his first successful leap from TV to film, captures Edward's childlike vulnerability even while his physical posture evokes horror icons like the vampire in Nosferatu and the sleepwalker in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Classic horror films, at their heart, feel a deep sympathy for the monsters they portray; simply and affectingly, Edward Scissorhands lays that heart bare. --Bret Fetzer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes
.
Starring:
.
Director:	Rating: R	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Stereo

Evolution
.
Starring: Duchovny, David Moore, Julianne Scott, Seann William Scott, Seann William Silverman, Sarah Jones, Orlando William Scott, Seann Levine, Ted Levine, Ted Aykroyd, Dan
.
Director: Reitman, Ivan	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Based on the evidence in Evolution, one thing is perfectly clear: special effects have evolved, but director Ivan Reitman has reverted to primitive pandering. Equally obvious is the fact that Evolution is a de facto rip-off of Reitman's 1984 classic Ghostbusters, but this time there's no Bill Murray to deliver the best punch lines (we have to settle for fellow ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd in a broad supporting role), and the comedy has devolved into a grossfest including deep-rectal extraction of alien insects, fire-hose enemas into a giant alien sphincter, and a full-moon display of David Duchovny's naked posterior. Whereas Ghostbusters was a shrewd, irreverent mainstream comedy that combined gooey spectral ectoplasm with something resembling genuine wit, Evolution is a crude, juvenile romp in which all things slimy are elevated to comedic supremacy. Granted, that's not always a bad thing. As latter-day ghostbuster equivalents, Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Seann William Scott make a fine comedic trio, and Julianne Moore is equally amusing as a clumsy scientist and Duchovny's obligatory love interest. Despite the meddling of clueless military buffoons, they join forces to eradicate a wild variety of rapidly evolving alien creatures that arrived on Earth via meteor impact, and the extraterrestrial beasties (courtesy of effects wizard Phil Tippet and crew) are outrageously designed and marvelously convincing. For anyone who prefers lowbrow humor, Evolution will prove as entertaining as Ghostbusters (or at least Galaxy Quest), while others may lament Reitman's shameless embrace of crudeness. One thing's for certain: after seeing this movie, you'll gain a whole new appreciation for Head & Shoulders shampoo. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Excalibur
.
Starring: Terry, Nigel Mirren, Helen Clay, Nicholas Lunghi, Cherie Clay, Nicholas Neeson, Liam Swift, Clive Byrne, Gabriel Byrne, Gabriel Boorman, Katrine
.
Director: Boorman, John	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.4/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Deliverance) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. --Robert Lane --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Fifth Element, The
.
Starring: Willis, Bruce Oldman, Gary Holm, Ian Holm, Ian Cuthbert, Ian Holm Perry, Luke Tucker, Chris James, Brion James, Brion Lister, Tiny
.
Director: Besson, Luc	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 6 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Ancient curses, all-powerful monsters, shape-changing assassins, scantily clad stewardesses, laser battles, huge explosions, a perfect woman, a malcontent hero--what more can you ask of a big-budget science fiction movie? Luc Besson's high-octane film incorporates presidents, rock stars, and cab drivers into its peculiar plot, traversing worlds and encountering some pretty wild aliens. Bruce Willis stars as a down-and-out cabbie who must win the love of Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) to save Earth from destruction by Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman) and a dark, unearthly force that makes Darth Vader look like an Ewok.

Frank Herbert's Dune
.
Starring: Hurt, William Cox, Julie Giannini, Giancarlo Reeves, Saskia McNeice, Ian Keeslar, Matt Moriarty, P.H.
.
Director: Harrison, John	Rating: Not Rated	Running Time: 295 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Mono

Description: Television release: December 3, 2000 (Sci-Fi channel) Filmed in Prague and Tunisia. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro has photographed over 40 films, including Apocalypse Now and The Last Emperor. Writer-director John Harrison cowrote Disney's Dinosaur. Description: Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel comes to life in this lavishly-produced Sci Fi Channel mini-series. On a desert planet where the sand contains the most precious substance in the Universe, struggles both poliitcal and spiritual are waged by those who try to control it. This epic tale of the year 10,191 is a vibrant mix of planetary ecology, political intruge, otherworldly splendor and the mysteries of the human mind..

Galaxy Quest
.
Starring: Allen, Tim Weaver, Sigourney Rickman, Alan Shalhoub, Tony Mitchell, Daryl Colantoni, Enrico Rockwell, Sam Sachs, Robin Sachs, Robin Allen, Tim
.
Director: Parisot, Dean	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video You don't have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy Galaxy Quest, but it certainly helps. A knowingly affectionate tribute to Trek and any other science fiction TV series of the 1960s and beyond, this crowd-pleasing comedy offers in-jokes at warp speed, hitting the bull's-eye for anyone who knows that (1) the starship captain always removes his shirt to display his manly physique; (2) any crew member not in the regular cast is dead meat; and (3) the heroes always stop the doomsday clock with one second to spare. So it is with Commander Taggart (Tim Allen) and the stalwart crew of the NSEA Protector, whose intergalactic exploits on TV have now been reduced to a dreary cycle of fan conventions and promotional appearances. That's when the Thermians arrive, begging to be saved from Sarris, the reptilian villain who threatens to destroy their home planet. Can actors rise to the challenge and play their roles for real? The Thermians are counting on it, having studied the "historical documents" of the Galaxy Quest TV show, and their hero worship (not to mention their taste for Monte Cristo sandwiches) is ultimately proven worthy, with the help of some Galaxy geeks on planet Earth. And while Galaxy Quest serves up great special effects and impressive Stan Winston creatures, director Dean Parisot (Home Fries) is never condescending, lending warm acceptance to this gentle send-up of sci-fi TV and the phenomenon of fandom. Best of all is the splendid cast, including Sigourney Weaver as buxom blonde Gwen DeMarco; Alan Rickman as frustrated thespian Alexander Dane; Tony Shalhoub as dimwit Fred Kwan; Daryl Mitchell as former child-star Tommy Webber; and Enrico Colantoni as Thermian leader Mathesar, whose sing-song voice is a comedic coup de gr‰ce. --Jeff Shannon

Gattaca
.
Starring: Hawke, Ethan Thurman, Uma Law, Jude Law, Jude Dean, Loren Vidal, Gore Berkeley, Xander Brook, Jayne Brook, Jayne Rudolph, Maya
.
Director: Niccol, Andrew	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video Confidently conceived and brilliantly executed, Gattaca had a somewhat low profile release in 1997, but audiences and critics hailed the film's originality. It's since been recognized as one of the most intelligent science fiction films of the 1990s. Writer-director Andrew Niccol, the talented New Zealander who also wrote the acclaimed Jim Carrey vehicle The Truman Show, depicts a near-future society in which one's personal and professional destiny is determined by one's genes. In this society, "Valids" (genetically engineered) qualify for positions at prestigious corporations, such as Gattaca, which grooms its most qualified employees for space exploration. "In-Valids" (naturally born), such as the film's protagonist, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), are deemed genetically flawed and subsequently fated to low-level occupations in a genetically caste society. With the help of a disabled "Valid" (Jude Law), Vincent subverts his society's social and biological barriers to pursue his dream of space travel; any random mistake--and an ongoing murder investigation at Gattaca--could reveal his plot. Part thriller, part futuristic drama and cautionary tale, Gattaca establishes its social structure so convincingly that the entire scenario is chillingly believable. With Uma Thurman as the woman who loves Vincent and identifies with his struggle, Gattaca is both stylish and smart, while Jude Law's performance lends the film a note of tragic and heartfelt humanity. In addition to a superb widescreen transfer, the DVD edition of Gattaca includes several deleted scenes (and one humorous outtake), which further establish the story's social context and provide additional insight into the scientific and ethical issues explored in this extraordinary film. --Jeff Shannon

George Lucas in Love
.
Starring: Hynes, Martin Peck, Jason IV, David Young Wiens, Jeff Hynes, Martin Dowling, Timothy Lee, John Rafter Livingston, Ben Livingston, Ben Kerr, Patrick
.
Director: Nussbaum, Joe	Rating: NR	Running Time: 46 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com A hilarious and affectionate parody of both the Star Wars films and the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love, George Lucas in Love provides more wit and intelligence in eight minutes that most full-length feature films do in 90. It's 1967, and George Lucas (Martin Hynes) is only three days from graduating from film school. The "agricultural space tragedy" he's been working on isn't going well at all. Taunted by his asthmatic rival (who wears a black cape), flummoxed by his adviser (who speaks in backwards sentences), he's at wit's end, until inspiration arrives in the form of the comely Marion (Lisa Jakub), the leader of the student campus rebellion who sports a distinctly familiar hairdo featuring twin buns. Funny without being too in-jokey, and clever but never full of itself, George Lucas in Love is a perfect example of the short film parody: it never wears out its welcome. Can't catch all the references? A fun-filled enhanced version of the short, like a Pop-Up Video, points out all the allusions along with facts about the making of the short, and a 10-minute, behind-the-scenes feature details the creative process from inception to the success the film received upon its release. Included on the DVD are three additional short parodies--Swing Blade (which the makers of George Lucas in Love cite as their inspiration), Film Club, and Evil Hill. Swing Blade is a blissfully short, truly inspired melding of Sling Blade and Swingers, with a Billy Bob Thornton look-alike trying to make it on the L.A. singles scene, and Film Club is a goofy take on Fight Club, but with independent filmmaking taking the place of bare-knuckle brawling ("I want you to shoot me, and make sure you give me lots of head room."). Only Evil Hill, which purports to tell you how Dr. Evil of Austin Powers became truly evil, loses its momentum in its 10-plus minutes, as it attempts to mix Austin Powers references with both Notting Hill and the Marilyn Monroe mythos. Sometimes imitation isn't the sincerest form of flattery. --Mark Englehart

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Radcliffe, Daniel Watson, Emma Grint, Rupert Harris, Richard Cleese, John Walters, Julie Radcliffe, Daniel Griffiths, Richard Griffiths, Richard Hart, Ian
.
Director: Columbus, Chris	Rating: PG	Running Time: 2 Hours 32 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crme de la crme cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up. --Doug Thomas --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features Kids can try their skills at the feats Harry performed in the movie with the puzzles and games included on the second disc. They're set up as a tour of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, and contestants use the DVD remote control to pick the right wand, find keys, mix potions correctly, see 360-degree views of various rooms, grab a snitch, and solve other riddles to reach the Sorcerer's Stone. Reaching the titular stone unlocks seven deleted scenes that are worth the 10- to 15-minute investment in the... read more

Hellboy (Two-Disc Special Edition)
.
Starring: Perlman, Ron Blair, Selma Blair, Selma Tambor, Jeffrey Perlman, Ron Smurfit, Victoria Pierce, David Hyde Blair, Selma Blair, Selma Roden, Karel
.
Director: Toro, Guillermo del	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.7/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com In the ongoing deluge of comic-book adaptations, Hellboy ranks well above average. Having turned down an offer to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in favor of bringing Hellboy's origin story to the big screen, the gifted Mexican director Guillermo del Toro compensates for the excesses of Blade II with a moodily effective, consistently entertaining action-packed fantasy, beginning in 1944 when the mad monk Rasputin--in cahoots with occult-buff Hitler and his Nazi thugs--opens a transdimensional portal through which a baby demon emerges, capable of destroying the world with his powers. Instead, the aptly named Hellboy is raised by the benevolent Prof. Bloom, founder of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, whose allied forces enlist the adult Hellboy (Ron Perlman, perfectly cast) to battle evil at every turn. While nursing a melancholy love for the comely firestarter Liz (Selma Blair), Hellboy files his demonic horns ("to fit in," says Bloom) and wreaks havoc on the bad guys. The action is occasionally routine (the movie suffers when compared to the similar X-Men blockbusters), but del Toro and Perlman have honored Mike Mignola's original Dark Horse comics with a lavish and loyal interpretation, retaining the amusing and sympathetic quirks of character that made the comic-book Hellboy a pop-culture original. He's red as a lobster, puffs stogies like Groucho Marx, and fights the good fight with a kind but troubled heart. What's not to like? --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features The Hellboy two-disc set is as loaded as our hero's Samaritan handgun. On the first commentary track, director Guillermo del Toro offers a lot of interesting information on the filming and background of the movie. Mike Mignola, creator of the comic book, is also on hand but seems content to wear his co-executive producer hat in support of del Toro rather than provide deep insight. Perhaps even more listenable is the actors' commentary, with Ron Perlman particularly good. Also on the disc are... read more

I, Robot
.
Starring: Smith, Will Moynahan, Bridget Tudyk, Alan McBride, Chi Tudyk, Alan Cromwell, James LaBeouf, Shia Baker, Simon R. Baker, Simon R. Shinkoda, Peter
.
Director: Proyas, Alex	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 54 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.9/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound

Barnes & Noble Having firmly established his sci-fi credentials with Independence Day and Men in Black, Will Smith returns to the genre in this fast-paced, action-packed, but extremely loose adaptation of Isaac Asimov's influential robot stories. The year is 2035, and technophobe Chicago cop Del Spooner (Smith) is assigned to investigate the supposedly accidental death of a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell). Del eventually has reason to believe that Lanning was actually murdered by a robot, Sonny (voiced by Alan Tudyk), one of a new line that's being rolled out all over the world. There's just one problem with his theory: Robots are programmed to never harm human beings. Or are they? Director Alex Proyas -- no sci-fi slouch himself, having helmed the stylish Dark City and The Crow -- doesn't waste too much footage on the scientific aspects of robotics; he develops the story like a classic whodunit at first, allowing Spooner to interact with a beautiful assistant (Bridget Moynahan), his increasingly impatient lieutenant (Chi McBride), and the guilty-looking CEO of the company that makes the robots (Bruce Greenwood). Asimov's famous Three Laws of Robotics are briefly outlined, but the author's subtleties regarding ethics don't make it to the screen. Once certain critical revelations are made, Proyas switches into high gear; the pace picks up and I, Robot turns into a slam-bang action movie that taxes the ingenuity of special-effects wizards already challenged by mingling thousands of computer-generated robots with an equal number of humans. Aside from the fact that Smith seems to be exploiting his already established persona instead of portraying a new character, the film works surprisingly well, even though the "surprise" plot twist is telegraphed well in advance. While Asimov's stories probably deserved a more cerebral adaptation, the movie doesn't stint on any of the elements generally thought to make contemporary sci-fi offerings successful with audiences. Ed Hulse All Movie Guide Director Alex Proyas (Dark City, The Crow) helmed this sci-fi thriller inspired by the stories in Isaac Asimov's nine-story anthology of the same name. In the future presented in the film, humans have become exceedingly dependent on robots in their everyday lives. Robots have become more and more advanced, but each one is preprogrammed to always obey humans and to, under no circumstances, ever harm a human. So, when a scientist turns up dead and a humanoid robot is the main suspect, the world is left to wonder if they are as safe around their electronic servants as previously thought. Will Smith stars as Del Spooner, the robot-hating Chicago cop assigned to the murder investigation. Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, and Chi McBride also star. Matthew Tobey PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL NOTES: Presentation: Wide Screen Sound: DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound Features: Full-length audio commentary by director Alex Proyas and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman; "Making-Of" featurette; Still Photo gallery & more! Language: English, Franais, Espa–ol SubTitles: English, Espa–ol Editions: Subtitled Time: 1 Hour 54 Minutes

Independence Day (Five Star Collection)
.
Starring: Pullman, Bill Goldblum, Jeff Smith, Will Colin, Margaret Connick Jr., Harry Quaid, Randy Loggia, Robert Hirsch, Judd Hirsch, Judd Pullman, Bill
.
Director: Emmerich, Roland	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 153 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.0/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features Of the two commentaries, the more interesting is the one with the special effects supervisors, who engagingly demonstrate how the film's illusions ran the gamut from traditional "model & string" effects to the most sophisticated CGI applications. "Creating Reality" is the best of the three behind-the-scenes documentaries; "ID4 Invasion" is an interesting compilation of fictional news reports (some of them quite convincing) that were created for the TV reports within the movie, while the "HBO... read more

Jurassic Park - Widescreen Collector's Edition
.
Starring: Neill, Sam Dern, Laura Goldblum, Jeff Neill, Sam Jackson, Samuel L Mazzello, Joseph Ferrero, Martin Attenborough, Richard Attenborough, Richard Knight, Wayne
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 7 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Steven Spielberg's 1993 mega-hit rivals Jaws as the most intense and frightening film he'd ever made prior to Schindler's List, but it was also among his weakest stories. Based on Michael Crichton's novel about an island amusement park populated by cloned dinosaurs, the film works best as a thrill ride with none of the interesting human dynamics of Spielberg's Jaws. That lapse proves unfortunate, but there's no shortage of raw terror as a rampaging T-rex and nasty raptors try to make fast food out of the cast. The effects are still astonishing (despite the fact that the computer-generated technology has since been improved upon) and at times primeval, such as the sight of a herd of whatever-they-are scampering through a valley. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Jurassic Park III (Full Screeen Collector's Edition)
.
Starring: Neill, Sam Macy, William H. Leoni, TŽa Dern, Laura Neill, Sam Nichols, Taylor Young, Bruce A. Jeter, Michael Jeter, Michael Leoni, Tea
.
Director: Johnston, Joe	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.7/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Surpassing expectations to qualify as an above-average sequel, Jurassic Park III is nothing more or less than a satisfying popcorn adventure. A little cheesier than the first two Jurassic blockbusters, it's a big B movie with big B-list stars (including Laura Dern, briefly reprising her Jurassic Park role), and eight years of advancing computer-generated-image technology give it a sharp edge over its predecessors. While adopting the jungle spirit of King Kong, the movie refines Michael Crichton's original premise, and its dinosaurs are even more realistic, their behavior more detailed, and their variety--including flying pteranodons and a new villain, the spinosaurus--more dazzling and threatening than ever. These advancements justify the sequel, and its contrived plot is just clever enough to span 90 minutes without wearing out its welcome. Posing as wealthy tourists, an adventurous couple (William H. Macy, TŽa Leoni) convince paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and his protŽgŽ (Allesandro Nivola) to act as tour guides on a flyover trip to Isla Sorna, the ill-fated "Site B" where all hell broke loose in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. In truth, they're on a search-and-rescue mission to find their missing son (Trevor Morgan), and their plane crash is just the first of several enjoyably suspenseful sequences. Director Joe Johnston (October Sky) embraces the formulaic plot as a series of atmospheric set pieces, placing new and familiar dinosaurs in misty rainforests, fiery lakes, and mysterious valleys, turning JP3 into a thrill ride with impressive highlights (including a T. rex versus spinosaurus smack-down), adequate doses of wry humor (from the cowriters of Election), and an upbeat ending that's corny but appropriate, proving that the symptoms of sequelitis needn't be fatal. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. Additional features You could call this collector's edition "How to Build a Better Dinosaur Movie." The "making-of" overview, a general overview for the casual viewer, just scratches the surface of this virtual dinosaur dig. "A Visit to ILM" takes the viewer step by step through the digital effects process, from concept to completed film, and "A Tour of Stan Winston's Studio" shows the construction of models and full-sized dinosaurs in a brief montage. Three "Behind the Scenes" featurettes pull back the curtain to... read more

King Arthur
.
Starring: Owen, Clive Knightley, Keira Gruffudd, Ioan Dancy, Hugh Dillane, Stephen Winstone, Ray Schweiger, Til Mikkelsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Mads Gilder, Sean
.
Director: Fuqua, Antoine	Rating: NR	Running Time: 2 Hours 19 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound

Barnes & Noble In King Arthur, director Antoine Fuqua never lets us forget that medieval Britain was not the brightly colored, sunlit, pastoral paradise depicted in the movies of Hollywood's Golden Age. His Britain is a gray, muddy, misty place in which armor-laden warriors trudge wearily and filthy peasants scrounge for sustenance. Consequently, his King Arthur (Clive Owen) is a rather dour fellow, and his fabled Knights of the Round Table are a relatively motley band of questionable characters. They attain heroic stature only in contrast to their adversaries, barbaric Saxons led by Cerdic (Stellan SkarsgŒrd), a fearsome brute determined to lay waste to the countryside -- which, at first glance, hasn't much to offer. Now, we can believe that the real Guinevere (Keira Knightley) wasn't a doe-eyed maiden dressed in impeccable finery, but Fuqua makes her out to be Merrie Olde England's equivalent ofXena: Warrior Princess, provocatively clad in a midriff-baring, animal-skin ensemble and shooting arrows with a speed and accuracy that would've made Robin Hood blush. The legendary love triangle involving her, Arthur, and Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd) is barely a suggestion in this version; indeed, Guinevere doesn't even appear until the movie is almost half over. The battle scenes are staged with scope and vigor, with the fury of battle suggested more than shown, although this may be a consequence of the movie's PG-13 rating, which indicates that the most graphic bloodletting was deleted in the cutting room. In fact, battle scenes in the Extended Unrated Version of the film are at once bloodier and more coherent. All in all, King Arthur reflects a great deal of care, and most viewers will find it a rousing return to Camelot, even if it's not your father's Camelot. Ed Hulse All Movie Guide An ambitious attempt to wed the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table with known historical facts of the era, this action adventure drama begins with the fall of the Roman Empire in 450 A.D. as Roman armies flee the British Isles. Arthur (Clive Owen), a heroic knight and devoted Christian, is torn between his desire to travel to Rome to serve his faith and his loyalty to the land of his birth. As England falls into lawlessness, Arthur throws in his lot with a band of knights who hope to restore order to their fair and pleasant land and hopes to win freedom for his comrades, among them Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd), Galahad (Hugh Dancy), Tristan (Mads Mikkelsen), Gawain (Joel Edgerton), Bors (Ray Winstone), and Dagonet (Ray Stevenson). In time, Arthur and his men join forces with Merlin (Stephen Dillane), a shaman whose band of renegade knights were often pitched in battle against Roman forces. Forming a united front as loyal Englishmen against the invading Saxon armies, Arthur, Merlin, and the brave and beautiful Guinevere (Keira Knightley) are determined to unite a sovereign Britain under one army and one king. Mark Deming PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL NOTES: Presentation: Wide Screen Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound Features: Alternate ending "Badon Hill," with optional director commentary; Blood on the Land: Forging King Arthur; Cast and Filmmaker Round Table; Director commentary; "Knight Vision" trivia track; Producer's photo gallery; Konami's King Arthur playable XBox demo; THX-certified, including THX Optimizer; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound; Widescreen (2.35:1) - enhanced for 16x9 televisions; French language track; French and Spanish subtitles Language: English, English Editions: Director's Cut Time: 2 Hours 19 Minutes

Legend (Ultimate Edition)
.
Starring: Cruise, Tom Sara, Mia Curry, Tim Sara, Mia Playten, Alice Barty, Billy Hubbert, Cork O'Farrell, Peter O'Farrell, Peter Lanyon, Annabelle
.
Director: Scott, Ridley	Rating: PG	Running Time: 3 Hours 24 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.0/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com essential video This strange, 1985 experiment by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) starred the up-and-coming Tom Cruise in a fairy-tale world of dwarfs and unicorns and demons. After the horn of a unicorn is broken, darkness and winter descend upon the world. Cruise's character, helped along by a magic sprite played by David Bennent (The Tin Drum), descends into hell to save paradise. This movie is almost a classic case of art direction gone amok. The somewhat amorphous Cruise doesn't lend much dramatic focus or artistic definition, but the drama between Tim Curry's satanic majesty and Mia Sara's character, who becomes a sort of princess of the netherworld, is pretty captivating. A mixed experience all around that makes one wish it had been more successful. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition), The
.
Starring: Wood, Elijah Lee, Christopher Mortensen, Viggo Astin, Sean Bean, Sean Holm, Ian Rhys-Davies, John Weaving, Hugo Weaving, Hugo Tyler, Liv
.
Director: Jackson, Peter	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 3 Hours 28 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com essential video In every aspect, the extended-edition DVD of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring blows away the theatrical-version DVD. No one who cares at all about the film should ever need to watch the original version again. Well, maybe the impatient and the squeamish will still prefer the theatrical version, because the extended edition makes a long film 30 minutes longer and there's a bit more violence (though both versions are rated PG-13). But the changes--sometimes whole scenes, sometimes merely a few seconds--make for a richer film. There's more of the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien, embodied in more songs and a longer opening focusing on Hobbiton. There's more character development, and more background into what is to come in the two subsequent films, such as Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship and Aragorn's burden of lineage. And some additions make more sense to the plot, or are merely worth seeing, such as the wood elves leaving Middle-earth or the view of Caras Galadhon (but sorry, there's still no Tom Bombadil). Extremely useful are the chapter menus that indicate which scenes are new or extended. Of the four commentary tracks, the ones with the greatest general appeal are the one by Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, and the one by 10 cast members, but the more technically oriented commentaries by the creative and production staff are also worth hearing. The bonus features (encompassing two complete DVDs) are far superior to the largely promotional materials included on the theatrical release, delving into such matters as script development, casting, and visual effects. The only drawback is that the film is now spread over two discs, with a somewhat abrupt break following the council at Rivendell, due to the storage capacity required for the longer running time, the added DTS ES 6.1 audio, and the commentary tracks. But that's a minor inconvenience. Whether in this four-disc set or in the collector's gift set (which adds Argonath bookends and a DVD of National Geographic Beyond the Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), the extended-edition DVD is the Fellowship DVD to rule them all. --David Horiuchi Description DISCS 1-2: The Feature Unique version of the epic adventure with over 30 minutes of never-before-seen footage incorporated into the film and new music scored by Academy Award(r)-winning composer Howard Shore (approx. 208 minutes); four audio commentaries by director and writers, the design team, the production team, and the cast featuring more than 30 participants including Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Academy Award(r) winners Richard Taylor, Andrew Lesnie, Howard Shore, Jim Rygiel, Randy Cook, and many more. DISCS 3-4: The Appendices Two discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries and design/photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring DISC 3: "From Book to Vision": Adapting the book into a screenplay & plannin g the film Designing and building Middle-earth Storyboards to pre-visualization Weta Workshop visit: An up-close look at the weapons, armor, creatures, and miniatures from the film Atlas of Middle-earth: Tracing the journey of the Fellowship An interactive map of New Zealand highlighting the location scouting process Galleries of art and slideshows with commentaries by the artists Guided tour of the wardrobe department Footage from early meetings, moving storyboards, and pre-visualization reels And much more! DISC 4: "From Vision to Reality": Bringing the characters to life A day in the life of a hobbit Principal photography: Stories from the set Scale: Creating the illusion of size Galleries of behind-the-scenes photographs and personal cast photos Editorial and visual effects multi-angle progressions Sound design demonstration And much more! DVD-ROM Content: Includes access to exclusive online features

Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Widescreen Edition), The
.
Starring: McKellen, Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Sir Ian Astin, Sean Bean, Sean Holm, Ian Rhys-Davies, John Rhys-Davies, John Wood, Elijah
.
Director: Jackson, Peter	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 58 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video As the triumphant start of a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring leaves you begging for more. By necessity, Peter Jackson's ambitious epic compresses J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, but this robust adaptation maintains reverent allegiance to Tolkien's creation, instantly qualifying as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. At 178 minutes, it's long enough to establish the myriad inhabitants of Middle-earth, the legendary Rings of Power, and the fellowship of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and humans--led by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the brave hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood)--who must battle terrifying forces of evil on their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the land of Mordor. Superbly paced, the film is both epic and intimate, offering astonishing special effects and production design while emphasizing the emotional intensity of Frodo's adventure. Ending on a perfect note of heroic loyalty and rich anticipation, this wondrous fantasy continues in The Two Towers (2002). --Jeff Shannon DVD features This initial DVD release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring presents the theatrical version of the film with a beautiful picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound that rattles the walls and gives rear speakers a good workout. Extras include almost two hours of making-of programs previously seen on TV or on the Web, but for many fans the most tantalizing feature will be the 10-minute preview of the next film in the series, The Two Towers. You'll see interviews, the realization of... read more Description Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an epic adventure of good against evil, the power of friendship and individual courage. The saga centers around an unassuming Hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a Ring that would give a dark and powerful lord the power to enslave the world. With a loyal fellowship of elves, dwarves, men and a wizard, Frodo embarks on a heroic quest to destroy the One Ring and pave the way for the emergence of mankind.

The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King, (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition), The
.
Starring: Wood, Elijah McKellen, Ian Monaghan, Dominic Rhys-Davies, John Hill, Bernard Noble, John Tyler, Liv Weaving, Hugo Weaving, Hugo Csokas, Marton
.
Director: Jackson, Peter	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 4 Hours 10 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 9.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby Digital Surround

PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL NOTES: Sound: Dolby Digital Surround Features: 4-disc platinum series special extended DVD edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King; collectible Minas Tirth polystone keepsake box created by Sideshow Weta; bonus DVD, "Creating The Lord of the Rings Symphony" by Howard Shore: a 52-minute program featuring interviews by Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore and live concert performances with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Language: English SubTitles: Spanish Time: 4 Hours 10 Minutes

Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition), The
.
Starring: Wood, Elijah McKellen, Ian Mortensen, Viggo Astin, Sean Dourif, Brad Rhys-Davies, John Weaving, Hugo Wood, Elijah Wood, Elijah Blanchett, Cate
.
Director: Jackson, Peter	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 3 Hours 43 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.9/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com The extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was perhaps the most comprehensive DVD release to date, and its follow-up proves a similarly colossal achievement, with significant extra footage and a multitude of worthwhile bonus features. The extended version of The Two Towers adds 43 minutes to the theatrical version's 179-minute running time, and there are valuable additions to the film. Two new scenes might appease those who feel that the characterization of Faramir was the film's most egregious departure from the book, and fans will appreciate an appearance of the Huorns at Helm's Deep plus a nod to the absence of Tom Bombadil. Seeing a little more interplay between the gorgeous Eowyn and Aragorn is welcome, as is a grim introduction to Eomer and Theoden's son. And among the many other additions, there's an extended epilogue that might not have worked in the theater, but is more effective here in setting up The Return of the King. While the 30 minutes added to The Fellowship of the Ring felt just right in enriching the film, the extra footage in The Two Towers at times seems a bit extraneous--we see moments that in the theatrical version we had been told about, and some fleshed-out conversations and incidents are rather minor. But director Peter Jackson's vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's world is so marvelous that it's hard to complain about any extra time we can spend there. While it may seem that there would be nothing left to say after the bevy of features on the extended Fellowship, the four commentary tracks and two discs of supplements on The Two Towers remain informative, fascinating, and funny, far surpassing the recycled materials on the two-disc theatrical version. Highlights of the 6.5 hours' worth of documentaries offer insight on the stunts, the design work, the locations, and the creation of Gollum, and--most intriguing for rabid fans--the film's writers (including Jackson) discuss why they created events that weren't in the book. Providing variety are animatics, rough footage, countless sketches, and a sound-mixing demonstration. Again, the most interesting commentary tracks are by Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and by 16 members of the cast (eight of whom didn't appear in the first film, and even including John Noble, whose Denethor character only appears in this extended cut). The first two installments of Peter Jackson's trilogy have established themselves as the best fantasy films of all time, and among the best film trilogies of all time, and their extended-edition DVD sets have set a new standard for expanding on the already-epic films and providing comprehensive bonus features. --David Horiuchi Description Not seen in theaters, this unique version of the epic adventure features over 40 minutes of new and extended scenes integrated into the film by the director. DVD set consists of four discs with hours of original content including multiple documentaries, commentaries and design/photo galleries with thousands of images to give viewers an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the film. Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship continue their quest to destroy the One Ring and stand against the evil of the dark lord Sauron. The Fellowship has divided and now find themselves taking different paths to defeating Sauron and his allies. Their destinies now lie at two towers - Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupted wizard Saruman waits and Sauron's fortress at Baraddur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.

Lost World - Jurassic Park (Widescreen Collector's Edition), The
.
Starring: Goldblum, Jeff Moore, Julianne Postlethwaite, Pete Brown, Bill Attenborough, Richard Sawyer, David Schiff, Richard Sachs, Robin Sachs, Robin Abercrombie, Ian
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 9 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.4/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com In the low tradition of knockoff horror flicks best seen (or not seen) on a drive-in movie screen, Steven Spielberg's sequel to Jurassic Park is a poorly conceived, ill-organized film that lacks story and logic. Screenwriter David Koepp strings along a number of loose ideas while Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm, the quirky chaos theoretician who now reluctantly agrees to go to another island where cloned dinosaurs are roaming freely. Along with his girlfriend (Julianne Moore) and daughter, Malcolm has to deal with hunters, environmentalists, and corporate swine who stupidly bring back a big dino to Southern California, where it runs amok, of course. Spielberg doesn't seem to care that the pieces of this project don't add up to a real movie, so he hams it up with big, scary moments (with none of the artfulness of those in Jurassic Park) and smart-aleck visual gags (a yapping dog in a suburb mysteriously disappears when a hungry T-rex stomps by). A complete bust. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition), The
.
Starring: Rendall, Kimble Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Larry Gaye, Nona Reeves, Keanu Weaving, Hugo McColm, Matt Bernhardt, Daniel Bernhardt, Daniel Pinkett-Smith, Jada
.
Director: Wachowski, Larry	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 18 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features Go right to the 30-minute feature on the incredible freeway chase. Here you get the inside scoop on how the titanic 12-minute sequence was put together. If you want more in-depth stuff on this physically impressive movie, amazingly it's not here; there's not even a commentary track. Perhaps the Wachowski brothers want to keep their enigmatic aura, or perhaps there's a better DVD coming after the trilogy ends. There is plenty of material on the second disc, but it's just filler, with the actors... read more Description In the second chapter of the Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of The Matrix and Neo's pivotal role in the fate of mankind.

Matrix Revisited, The
.
Starring: Reeves, Keanu Moss, Carrie-Anne Fishburne, Laurence Davis, Dane A. Davis, Don DiBonaventura, Lorenzo Doyle, Peter Fishburne, Laurence Fishburne, Laurence Moss, Carrie-Anne
.
Director: Oreck, Josh	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 3 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com A fitting supplement to the feature-packed Matrix DVD, The Matrix Revisited provides a wealth of Matrix arcana, delivered by the 1999 blockbuster's principal cast and crew. The main course in this 163-minute feast is a two-hour documentary covering virtually every aspect of production, with teasing glimpses of fight training on the not-yet-released Matrix sequels. Of greater interest is the sheer depth of filmmaking coverage, with intelligent and amusing anecdotes and insights from all the major players (including graphic artist Geof Darrow, given overdue credit for his outstanding conceptual designs). Fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping is also a fascinating subject, and his early action-blocking videos are included for comparative study. Another segment allows obsessive fans to express their fanatical zeal for all things Matrix, and a look at the in-production Matrix anime project gives them another source of inspiration. While you're pondering which pill to take (red or blue?), The Matrix Revisited should help you decide. --Jeff Shannon Description This just-completed project, a first-of-its-kind look at the development of a ground-breaking sci-fi trilogy, illuminates the phenomenal success of "The Matrix" with never-before-seen footage from the original film, new interviews with stars and filmmakers (Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, the Wachowski brothers, producer Joel Silver and fight choreographer Master Yuen Wo Ping), background on the origins of "The Matrix," how Academy Award®-winning special effects were developed and the actors' grueling training regimens. In addition, viewers will get a sneak peek of behind-the-scenes footage from "The Matrix's" upcoming sequels and a preview of "The Matrix" anime project including a first look at sketches, storyboards, interviews and footage with the animators. The DVD has more than three hours of hidden features including 188 minutes of music and seven minutes of concealed bonus video material.

Matrix Revolutions (Widescreen Edition), The
.
Starring: Fishburne, Laurence Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wilson, Lambert Spence, Bruce Weaving, Hugo Alice, Mary Moss, Carrie-Anne Moss, Carrie-Anne Bellucci, Monica
.
Director: Wachowski, Larry	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 9 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com Despite the inevitable law of diminishing returns, The Matrix Revolutions is quite satisfying as an adrenalized action epic, marking yet another milestone in the exponential evolution of computer-generated special effects. That may not be enough to satisfy hardcore Matrix fans who turned the Wachowski Brothers' hacker mythology into a quasi-religious pop-cultural phenomenon, but there's no denying that the trilogy goes out with a cosmic bang instead of the whimper that many expected. Picking up precisely where The Matrix Reloaded left off, this 130-minute finale finds Neo (Keanu Reeves) at a virtual junction, defending the besieged human enclave of Zion by confronting the attacking machines on their home turf, while humans combat swarms of tentacled mechanical sentinels as Zion's fate lies in the balance. It all amounts to a blaze of CGI glory, devoid of all but the shallowest emotions, and so full of metaphysical hokum that the trilogy's detractors can gloat with I-told-you-so sarcasm. And yet, Revolutions still succeeds as a slick, exciting hybrid of cinema and video game, operating by its own internal logic with enough forward momentum to make the whole trilogy seem like a thrilling, magnificent dream. -- Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features This two-disc set certainly improves upon the fluffy Reloaded DVD release. Although there's still no Wachowski brothers talking about their creation, there's a lot of good stuff here in the three main segments. We are constantly reminded how long the back-to-back filming schedule was, and it's most interesting to hear from the actors and artists as they come to the end of this long road. When a white rabbit flashes on screen, you can "branch" the most interesting documentary footage: how "bullet... read more Description Provocative Futuristic Action Thriller. The Matrix Revolutions marks the final explosive chapter in the Matrix trilogy.

Matrix, The
.
Starring: Reeves, Keanu Fishburne, Laurence Fishburne, Laurence Weaving, Hugo Pantoliano, Joe Foster, Gloria Chong, Marcus Parker, Anthony Ray Parker, Anthony Ray Arahanga, Julian
.
Director: Wachowski, Larry	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 16 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal--from what or whom he doesn't know--until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless character he has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is--a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend. Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves and Fishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise--a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks). --Jeremy Storey Editor's note Some DVD players may experience technical difficulties while playing the Matrix DVD. The disc itself is not affected. For more information, go to the following URL: http://www.pcfriendly.com/support/title/matrix/ Description Set in the 22nd century, "Matrix" tells of a computer hacker (Reeves) who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The computers are powered by human beings...

Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition)
.
Starring: Jones, Tommy Lee Smith, Will Torn, Rip Smith, Will Boyle, Lara Flynn Jones, Tommy Lee Torn, Rip Dawson, Rosario Dawson, Rosario Cross, David
.
Director: Sonnenfeld, Barry	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.6/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com More remake than sequel, Men in Black II safely repeats everything that made Men in Black the blockbuster hit of 1997. That's fine if you loved the original's fresh humor, weird aliens, and loopy ingenuity, but as sequels go, it's pure déjà vu. Makeup wizard Rick Baker is the only MIB alumnus who's trying anything new, while director Barry Sonnenfeld and costars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (as alien-fighting agents Jay and Kay, respectively) are on autopilot with an uninspired screenplay. The quest of a multitentacled alien--on Earth in the form of Lara Flynn Boyle--for the light of Zartha requires Jay to deneuralize Kay, whose restored memory contains the key to saving the planet. The tissue-thin premise allows all varieties of special effects--mostly familiar, with some oddly hilarious new stuff tossed in for good measure. Certainly enjoyable as a popcorn distraction, but the MIB magic has worn a bit thin. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features The hands-down highlight of MIIB's bonus features is "The Chubb Chubbs," a delightful computer-animated cartoon (briefly shown in theaters with MIIB) that has the awkward distinction of being funnier and more inventive than MIIB. The other features offer an extensive dossier of production details, paying worthy tribute to the ingenuity of MIIB's creative team. Fifteen featurettes cover virtually every stage of production, from conceptual designs (in the DVD-ROM section, along with the complete... read more

Men in Black Limited Edition
.
Starring: Jones, Tommy Lee Smith, Will Alexander, John Hamilton, Richard Smith, Will D'Onofrio, Vincent Jones, Tommy Lee Gries, Jonathan Gries, Jonathan Nussbaum, Mike
.
Director: Sonnenfeld, Barry	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 98 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video This imaginative summer comedy from director Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty) is a lot of fun, largely on the strength of Will Smith's engaging performance as the rookie partner of a secret agent (Tommy Lee Jones) assigned to keep tabs on Earth-dwelling extraterrestrials. There's lots of comedy to spare in this bright film, some of the funniest stuff found in the margins of the major action. (A scene with Smith's character being trounced in the distance by a huge alien while Jones questions a witness is a riot.) The inventiveness never lets up, and the cast--including Vincent D'Onofrio doing frighteningly convincing work as an alien occupying a decaying human--hold up their end splendidly. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Minority Report (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Cruise, Tom Sydow, Max von Morton, Samantha McDonough, Neal Gross, Arye Capshaw, Jessica Smith, Lois Von Sydow, Max Von Sydow, Max Stormare, Peter
.
Director: Spielberg, Steven	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 26 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video Set in the chillingly possible future of 2054, Steven Spielberg's Minority Report is arguably the most intelligently provocative sci-fi thriller since Blade Runner. Like Ridley Scott's "future noir" classic, Spielberg's gritty vision was freely adapted from a story by Philip K. Dick, with its central premise of "Precrime" law enforcement, totally reliant on three isolated human "precogs" capable (due to drug-related mutation) of envisioning murders before they're committed. As Precrime's confident captain, Tom Cruise preempts these killings like a true action hero, only to run for his life when he is himself implicated in one of the precogs' visions. Inspired by the brainstorming of expert futurists, Spielberg packs this paranoid chase with potential conspirators (Max Von Sydow, Colin Farrell), domestic tragedy, and a heartbreaking precog pawn (Samantha Morton), while Cruise's performance gains depth and substance with each passing scene. Making judicious use of astonishing special effects, Minority Report brilliantly extrapolates a future that's utterly convincing, and too close for comfort. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Mission To Mars
.
Starring: Sinise, Gary Robbins, Tim Cheadle, Don Mueller-Stahl, Armin O'Connell, Jerry Nielsen, Connie Outerbridge, Peter Cheadle, Don Cheadle, Don Smith, Kavan
.
Director: Palma, Brian De	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 4.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com If Brian De Palma directed Mission to Mars for 10-year-olds who've never seen a science fiction film, he can be credited for crafting a marginally successful adventure. Isolated moments in this film serve the highest purpose of its genre, inspiring a sense of wonder and awe in the context of a fascinating future (specifically, the year 2020). But because most of us have seen a lot of science fiction films, it's impossible to ignore this one's derivative plot, cardboard characters, and drearily dumb dialogue. Despite an awesome and painstakingly authentic display of cool technology and dazzling special effects, Mission to Mars is light years away from 2001: A Space Odyssey on the scale of human intelligence. After dispensing with a few space-jockey clichŽs, the movie focuses on a Mars-bound rescue mission commanded by Jim McConnell (Gary Sinise), whose team (Tim Robbins, Connie Nielsen, Jerry O'Connell) has been sent to retrieve the sole survivor (Don Cheadle) of a tragic Mars landing. During the sequence en route to Mars, De Palma's in his element with two suspenseful scenes (including a dramatic--albeit somewhat silly--space walk) that are technically impressive. But when this Mission gets to Mars, the movie grows increasingly unconvincing, finally arriving at an alien encounter that more closely resembles an astronomical CGI video game. But this is a $75 million Hollywood movie, and no amount of technical wizardry can lift the burden of a juvenile screenplay. Kudos to Sinise, his costars, and the special effects wizards for making the most of hoary material; shame on just about everyone else involved. --Jeff Shannon

Mothman Prophecies, The
.
Starring: Gere, Richard Linney, Laura Patton, Will Linney, Laura Jenney, Lucinda Blaisdell, Nesbitt Patton, Will Nunnally, Scott Nunnally, Scott Patton, Will
.
Director: Pellington, Mark	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Described by director Mark Pellington as "a psychological mystery with naturally surreal overtones," The Mothman Prophecies begins like an ambitious episode of The X-Files. Richard Gere brings adequate torment, portent, and ambiguity to his role as a Washington Post reporter and grieving widower plagued by a mysterious, unseen urban legend known as the Mothman. Pellington develops subtle doom and gloom that's as effective as the paranoid streak he brought to Arlington Road. As the Mothman terrifies a West Virginia town, he remains an enigma, glimpsed almost subliminally. This--along with a magnificently creepy soundtrack--amplifies the movie's surreal overtones while keeping everything else (unsettling phone calls, prophesied disasters, suggestions of the afterlife) completely unexplained. With Laura Linney and Debra Messing in underdeveloped roles, The Mothman Prophecies feels a bit underdeveloped itself (and ends in desperate need of Mulder and Scully). But if you like your weirdness open-ended, this moody thriller's worth a look. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Pitch Black (Rated Version)
.
Starring: Diesel, Vin Mitchell, Radha Burke, Simon David, Keith Fitz-Gerald, Lewis Mitchell, Radha Diesel, Vin Burke, Simon Burke, Simon Chantery, Les
.
Director: Twohy, David	Rating: R	Running Time: 109 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.6/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Owing a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn, Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalizes a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser), and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory. What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of straight-to-video schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this movie works better than it should. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Pitch Black (Widescreen Unrated Director's Cut)
.
Starring: Diesel, Vin Mitchell, Radha Hauser, Cole Urban, Karl Chinlund, Nick Vin Diesel Griffith, Rhiana Moore, John Moore, John Chantery, Les
.
Director: Twohy, David	Rating: R	Running Time: 1 Hour 52 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Planet of the Apes
.
Starring: Heston, Charlton McDowall, Roddy Harrison, Linda Evans, Maurice Heston, Charlton Daly, James Hunter, Kim Evans, Maurice Evans, Maurice Parfrey, Woodrow
.
Director: Schaffner, Franklin J.	Rating: PG	Running Time: 112 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com essential video Many early science fiction films are now, quite inadvertently (and in most cases undeservedly), objects of camp attention: we laugh at the silly makeup, tin-can special effects, and the naive "high-tech" dialogue. Planet of the Apes is no such film. Its intelligent script, frightening costuming, and savagely effective conclusion (which needs no big-budget special effects to augment its impact) remain both potent and relevant. When Colonel George Taylor (the fabulous Charlton Heston) crash lands his spacecraft on what seems to be an unfamiliar planet, he is captured and held prisoner by a dominant race of hyperrational, articulate apes. However, the ape community is riven with internal dissention, centered in no small part on its policy toward humans, who, on this planet, are treated as mindless animals. Befriended and ultimately assisted by the more liberal simians, Taylor escapes--only to find a more terrifying obstacle confronting his return home. Heavy-handed object lessons abound--the ubiquity of generational warfare, the inflexibility of dogma, the cruelty of prejudice--and the didactic fingerprints of Rod Serling are very much in evidence here. But director Franklin Schaffner has a dark, pop-apocalyptic sci-fi vision all his own, and time has not dulled the monumental emotional impact of the film's climactic payoff shot. If you don't know what I'm talking about here, you owe it to yourself to check out this stone classic, and even if you do, see it with fresh eyes; and don't be surprised if you get the chills all over again... and again... and again. --Miles Bethany --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Planet of the Apes (Single Disc Edition)
.
Starring: Wahlberg, Mark Carter, Helena Bonham Carroll, Diahann Nicholas, Harold J. Lennix, Harry Canada Terrell, John n, Leo Townsend, Robert Townsend, Robert Avari, Erick
.
Director: Burton, Tim	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 119 min
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.7/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Billed as a "reimagining" of the original 1968 film, Tim Burton's extraordinary Planet of the Apes constantly borders on greatness, adhering to the spirit of Pierre Boulle's original novel while exploring fresh and inventive ideas and paying honorable tribute to the '68 sci-fi classic. Burton's gifts for eccentric inspiration and visual ingenuity make this a movie that's as entertaining as it is provocative, beginning with Rick Baker's best-ever ape makeup (hand that man an Oscar®!), and continuing through the surprisingly nuanced performances and breathtaking production design. Add to all this an intelligent screenplay that turns Boulle's speculative reversal--the dominance of apes over humans--into a provocative study of civil rights and civil war. The film finally goes too far with a woefully misguided ending that pays weak homage to the original, but everything preceding that misfire is astonishingly right. While attempting the space-pod retrieval of a chimpanzee test pilot, Major Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) enters a magnetic storm that propels him into the distant future, where he crash-lands on the ape-ruled planet. Among the primitively civilized apes, treatment of enslaved humans is a divisive issue: senator's daughter Ari (Helena Bonham Carter) advocates equality while the ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) promotes extermination. While Davidson ignites a human rebellion, this conflict is explored with admirable depth and emotion, and sharp dialogue allows Burton's exceptional cast to bring remarkable expressiveness to their embattled ape characters, most notably in the comic relief of orangutan slave trader Limbo (played to perfection by Paul Giamatti). Classic lines from the original film are cleverly reversed (including an unbilled cameo for Charlton Heston, in ape regalia as Thade's dying father), and while this tale of interspecies warfare leads to an ironic conclusion that's not altogether satisfying, it still bears the ripe fruit of a timeless what-if idea. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Predator
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Weathers, Carl Weathers, Carl Carrillo, Elpidia Ventura, Jesse Peter Hall, Kevin Armstrong, R.G. Chaves, Richard Chaves, Richard Hall, Kevin Peter
.
Director: McTiernan, John	Rating: R	Running Time: 107 min
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video Rambo meets Alien in this terrific science-fiction thriller from 1987, directed by John McTiernan just a year before Die Hard made him Hollywood's most sought-after director of action-packed blockbusters. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite squad of U.S. Army commandos to a remote region of South American jungle, where they've been assigned to search for South American officials who've been kidnapped by terrorists. Instead they find a bunch of skinned corpses hanging from the trees and realize that they're now facing a mysterious and much deadlier threat. As the squad is picked off one by one, Arnold finds himself pitted against a hideous alien creature that's heavily armed and wearing a spacesuit enabling the creature to render itself invisible. The title says it all in describing the relentless, escalating action that follows, maintained by McTiernan with an abundance of visual flair. The film's special effects are still impressive, and stunning locations in the Mexican jungles create a combined atmosphere of verdant beauty and imminent danger. The plot doesn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie's so exciting and tightly paced that its weaknesses seem irrelevant. --Jeff Shannon

Predator - Special Edition
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Weathers, Carl Carrillo, Elpidia Duke, Bill Armstrong, R.G. Weathers, Carl Carrillo, Elpidia Hall, Kevin Peter Hall, Kevin Peter Hall, Kevin Peter
.
Director: McTiernan, John	Rating: R	Running Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.3/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound,

From Barnes & Noble With this 1987 hit, John McTiernan demonstrated his chops as an action-film director, while leading man Arnold Schwarzenegger was able to add to his already lengthy string of box-office blockbusters. Predator stars Arnold as Maj. "Dutch" Schaeffer, the head of a team of mercenaries hired to carry out a delicate rescue mission in the dense tropical jungles of South America. What Schaeffer doesn't count on is the periodic attacks by an invisible foe that turns out to be an alien hunter toying with the squad, one man at a time. Although a little slow to get going by action-movie standards, Predator takes some pains to establish the characters and invest them with clearly definable personalities, which helps the viewer identify with them and heightens the suspense when they start falling victim to their unseen adversary. Arnold is clearly the star, but he doesn't carry the picture single-handedly; he gets solid support from Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura. McTiernan's handling of the jungle scenes creates almost unbearable anxiety, as the viewer never knows exactly when, where, or how the predator will strike. The leisurely build-up of tension makes the sudden, violent bursts of action seem even more ferocious than they are. Not widely appreciated by critics when it first came out, Predator has since become a model for younger filmmakers seeking to emulate this type of movie. The remastering for this Special Edition adds luster to both image and sound, and a wealth of supplementary features -- including an all-new documentary on the creation of the film, "If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It" -- offer an inside look at the production process that is bound to increase appreciation for this action landmark. Ed Hulse From All Movie Guide Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has a code of honor which he will not violate, even when his life depends on it. Paradoxically, his code of honor gives him the backbone to survive as a military special forces operative when he is sent on a covert mission to rescue another group which was sent in to assist some nefarious U.S. government plan in a Latin American country. Once there, he encounters an old army buddy (Carl Weathers) who has gotten too deep in the CIA's good graces for Dutch's comfort. When he and his team go into the jungle to rescue the others, they get involved in a pitched battle with local guerillas, but they are more than capable of besting these vicious fighters. However, not long after that, they encounter signs that the equally capable men they were sent to rescue were all killed unawares and in an unusually gruesome fashion. Given their training, it should have been impossible for anyone to best all of these commando warriors. Soon, the men from Dutch's own team get picked off one by one, as they grow aware that they are up against something uncanny, not of this world, something that is hunting them for sport. Why? Because their skills make them worthy opponents for the perfectly camouflaged Predator. This carefully paced action movie was given poor reviews by many movie critics, but was sufficiently satisfying for its (largely male) audiences that a successful sequel (Predator 2) was released in 1990. Clarke Fountain

Red Planet
.
Starring: Kilmer, Val Moss, Carrie-Anne Sizemore, Tom Bratt, Benjamin Moss, Carrie-Anne Baker, Simon Morton, Jessica Bossi, Caroline Bossi, Caroline
.
Director: Hoffman, Antony	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com In Red Planet, the only thing thicker than the Martian atmosphere (which is breathable, by the way) is the layer of clichŽs that nearly smothers a formulaic beat-the-clock plot. Science fiction fans are sure to be forgiving, however, because the film is reasonably intelligent, boasts a few dazzling sequences, and presents fascinating technology in the year 2057. We don't know how the Mars-1 spaceship gets to Mars in only six months (newfangled propulsion, no doubt), but we do get some cool diagnostic readouts on tinfoil scrolls, an abundance of well-designed hardware, and a service-robot-turned-villain that's a high-tech hybrid of RoboCop, Bruce Lee, and a slinky panther with plenty of lethal attitude. The oxygen in the Martian atmosphere has resulted from nascent efforts of terraforming, made necessary by Earth's overpolluted condition. Mars-1 has been dispatched to determine why the terraforming is failing, and upon arrival everything goes inevitably haywire. Nearly two hours, three deaths, and multiple crises later (including the discovery of a Martian life form), "space janitor" Val Kilmer and his ultracompetent commander (Carrie-Anne Moss from The Matrix) have collaborated to set things right, capped off by second dose of the wretched narration that bookends the movie. Hoary material, to be sure, and as a veteran of TV commercials making his feature debut, director Anthony Hoffman is clearly more comfortable with flashy visuals than depth of character. Still, he keeps things humming right along. A perfectly suitable companion to another 2000 sci-fi thriller, Pitch Black, Red Planet is a fine way to kill a couple of hours. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Reign of Fire
.
Starring: Bale, Christian McConaughey, Matthew Scorupco, Izabella Butler, Gerard Moutter, Scott Kennedy, David Siddig, Alexander Dennehy, Ned Dennehy, Ned Maynard, Terence
.
Director: Bowman, Rob	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.8/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com The Road Warrior meets Dragonslayer in the briskly entertaining post-apocalyptic action thriller Reign of Fire. Reign of Fire exists primarily to give us a bigger and better dragon than the Vermithrax Pejorative of 1981's classic Dragonslayer, and in that regard, the special effects are mightily impressive; the reptilian fire-breathers are stupendously convincing. While the earlier film offers a richer, more whimsical medieval adventure, Reign of Fire is a fast-moving tale of man versus dragon that takes place in the charred England of 2020, after Earth has been scorched by rapidly multiplying dragons and the aftermath of a futile nuclear counterstrike. Mixing high-tech gadgetry with primitive survivalism, X-Files alumnus Rob Bowman makes the most of his midlevel budget, establishing a lavish castle base for the rugged, adversarial teaming of Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey as dragonslayers on the brink of extinction. With a steady supply of crowd-pleasing highlights, Reign of Fire is a pyrotechnical treat. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Robocop - Criterion Collection
.
Starring: Weller, Peter Allen, Nancy Cox, Ronny Smith, Kurtwood O'Herlihy, Dan Ferrer, Miguel DoQui, Robert Wise, Ray Wise, Ray McCrane, Paul
.
Director: Verhoeven, Paul	Rating: Unrated	Running Time: 103 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video When it arrived on the big screen in 1987, Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop was like a high-voltage jolt of electricity, blending satire, thrills, and abundant violence with such energized gusto that audiences couldn't help feeling stunned and amazed. The movie was a huge hit, and has since earned enduring cult status as one of the seminal science fiction films of the 1980s. Followed by two sequels, a TV series, and countless novels and comic books, this original RoboCop is still the best by far, largely due to the audacity and unbridled bloodlust of director Verhoeven. However, the reasons many enjoyed the film are also the reasons some will surely wish to avoid it. Critic Pauline Kael called the movie a dubious example of "gallows pulp," and there's no denying that its view of mankind is bleak, depraved, and graphically violent. In the Detroit of the near future, a policeman (Peter Weller) is brutally gunned down by drug-dealing thugs and left for dead, but he survives (half of him, at least) and is integrated with state-of-the-art technology to become a half-robotic cop of the future, designed to revolutionize law enforcement. As RoboCop holds tight to his last remaining shred of humanity, he relentlessly pursues the criminals who "killed" him. All the while, Verhoeven (from a script by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner) injects this high-intensity tale with wickedly pointed humor and satire aimed at the men and media who cover a city out of control. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the DVD edition. Description Called by Ken Russell "the greatest science-fiction film since Metropolis," controversial director Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop is a special effects-laden cult phenomenon. The film features a resurrected and roboticized hero (Peter Weller) in a new, supercharged cyborg body, struggling to reclaim his memory and avenge his own death. Writtern by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, this film is a grown-up superhero fantasy come to vivid, bloody life.

Signs (Vista Series)
.
Starring: Gibson, Mel Phoenix, Joaquin Jones, Cherry Shyamalan, M. Night Culkin, Rory Breslin, Abigail Culkin, Rory Sutton, Ted Sutton, Ted Flaherty, Lanny
.
Director: Shyamalan, M. Night	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com This B movie with noble aspirations is the work of a gifted filmmaker whose storytelling falls short of his considerable stylistic flair. While addressing crises of faith in the framework of an alien-invasion thriller, M. Night Shyamalan (in his follow-up to The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable) favors atmospheric tension over explanatory plotting. He injects subtle humor into expertly spooky scenes, but the story suffers from too many lapses in logic. The film's faults are greatly compensated by the performance of Mel Gibson as a widower whose own crisis of faith coincides with the appearance of mysterious crop circles in his Pennsylvania cornfield... and hundreds of UFOs around the globe. With his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) and two young children (Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin), the lapsed minister perceives this phenomenal occurrence as a series of signs and portents, while Shyamalan pursues a spookfest with War of the Worlds overtones. It's effective to a point, but vaguely hollow at its core. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features The key component of this Vista Series DVD is a six-part documentary about the making of the film from idea to theatrical release. M. Night Shyamalan talks at length about the film and his filmmaking technique in this exclusive one-hour feature. The approach is straightforward but at times is as self-congratulatory as a marketing puff piece. Because Shyamalan works so leanly, the five deleted scenes are excellent, including a chilling scene from the film's final act. Also included are storyboard... read more

Solaris
.
Starring: Clooney, George McElhone, Natascha Davies, Jeremy Clooney, George Banionis, Donatas Dvorzhetsky, Vladislav McElhone, Natascha Faulcon, Kent Faulcon, Kent Davis, Viola
.
Director: Soderbergh, Steven	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 39 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.4/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com A curious mix of science fiction and metaphysical love story, Solaris centers around Chris Kelvin (George Clooney), a psychologist sent to investigate why a space station orbiting an alien planet has stopped communications. The planet has the power to delve into human psyches and re-create lost loved ones--in Kelvin's case, his dead wife (Natascha McElhone), whom he then wants to bring back to Earth. Director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich) fills almost every shot with faces and bodies, as if to emphasize the human soul rather than outer space as the movie's true subject. Unfortunately, the vagueness of the environment--combined with a script that implies more than it shows--serves to dislocate our ability to engage with the characters, rendering Solaris emotionally inert. Jeremy Davies, as a lingering crew member, brings a hint of humor to the otherwise serious-minded proceedings. --Bret Fetzer --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.

Space Cowboys
.
Starring: Eastwood, Clint Jones, Tommy Lee Jones, Tom Lee Sutherland, Donald Garner, James Cromwell, James Babcock, Barbara Brown, Blair Brown, Blair Harden, Marcia Gay
.
Director: Eastwood, Clint	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com This slice of cornball Americana is so much fun you'll be tempted to stand up and salute. Director and costar Clint Eastwood manages to turn what might have been ludicrous into a jubilant tribute to age and experience, and Space Cowboys succeeds as two movies in one--a comedy about retired pilots given one last shot at glory and an Apollo 13-like thriller with all the requisite heroics. With a dream cast of Hollywood vets playing old farts described in tabloids as "The Ripe Stuff," the movie jumps from a 1958 prologue (establishing their lost bid for space travel) to 40-plus years later, when the retired Air Force aces (Eastwood, James Garner, Donald Sutherland, Tommy Lee Jones) volunteer to rescue a falling Russian satellite that only Eastwood's character can repair. It turns out that Russky bird is a cold war leftover equipped with live nuclear warheads, and Space Cowboys revs up to a rousing climax in which our heroes prove their mettle. But first the comedy: watching these codgers struggle to pass NASA's physical tests is a total hoot, with running gags about wrinkles, dentures, and oysters for sagging libidos. (Sutherland is the scene-stealer, but they're all having a blast.) Once in space, the movie gets down to business, and the visual-effects wizards at Industrial Light and Magic provide stunning vistas from Earth's orbit; a shot looking down at the boot of Italy is particularly beautiful. A subplot involving a weasely NASA administrator (James Cromwell) is rather perfunctory, but it hardly matters. Space Cowboys earns its wings, once again demonstrating Eastwood's comfort with any genre he chooses. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Additional features Even though this DVD doesn't boast that it's a special edition, it has some of the nicest extras you'd want to see. There's nearly an hour of behind-the-footage material, all of it superior made-for-cable featurettes so often included on DVDs. The technicians divulge little tricks of the trade, revealing more computer effects in the film than you'd think. Longtime Eastwood editor Joel Cox provides insight into the director's work routine. The highlight, though, is an extended version of the four... read more Description In 1958, the members of Team Daedalus, a group of top Air Force test pilots, were ready to serve their country as the first Americans in space but were pushed aside. Now, as a Russian satellite fails and is about to crash into earth, Team Daedalus is back in action in a rescue mission.

Star Trek - The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition)
.
Starring: Shatner Nimoy Kelley, DeForest Takei, George Collins, Stephen Doohan, James Koenig, Walter Khambatta, Persis Khambatta, Persis Kelley, DeForest
.
Director: Wise, Robert	Rating: PG	Running Time: 2 Hours 16 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 5.7/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Back when the first Star Trek feature was released in December 1979, the Trek franchise was still relatively modest, consisting of the original TV series, an animated cartoon series from 1973-74, and a burgeoning fan network around the world. Series creator Gene Roddenberry had conceived a second TV series, but after the success of Star Wars the project was upgraded into this lavish feature film, which reunited the original series cast aboard a beautifully redesigned starship U.S.S. Enterprise. Under the direction of Robert Wise (best known for West Side Story), the film proved to be a mixed blessing for Trek fans, who heatedly debated its merits; but it was, of course, a phenomenal hit. Capt. Kirk (William Shatner) leads his crew into the vast structures surrounding V'Ger, an all-powerful being that is cutting a destructive course through Starfleet space. With his new First Officer (Stephen Collins), the bald and beautiful Lieutenant Ilia (played by the late Persis Khambatta) and his returning veteran crew, Kirk must decipher the secret of V'Ger's true purpose and restore the safety of the galaxy. The story is rather overblown and derivative of plots from the original series, and avid Trekkies greeted the film's bland costumes with derisive laughter. But as a feast for the eyes, this is an adventure worthy of big-screen trekkin'. Douglas Trumbull's visual effects are astonishing, and Jerry Goldmith's score is regarded as one of the prolific composer's very best (with its main theme later used for Star Trek: The Next Generation). And, fortunately for Star Trek fans, the expanded 143-minute version (originally shown for the film's network TV premiere) is generally considered an improvement over the original theatrical release. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features More than simply a "director's cut," this new edition features enhanced, and in some cases completely redone, special effects as well as (for a change of pace) cuts to tighten the dawdling story. It may not fly with purists, but director Robert Wise makes his case in the documentary featurette "Redirecting the Future," which details the changes with scene-by-scene comparisons, and on the commentary track, which he shares with special-effects legends Douglas Trumbull and John Dykstra... read more

Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home
.
Starring: Shatner, William Hicks, Catherine Kelley, DeForest Takei, George Doohan, James Nimoy, Leonard Nichols, Nichelle Koenig, Walter Koenig, Walter
.
Director: Nimoy, Leonard	Rating: PG	Running Time: 109 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Mono

Description: "...THE VOYAGE HOME eschews the previous films' heavy themes and puts light laughs centre stage..."

Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (Special Edition)
.
Starring: Nimoy, Leonard Shatner, William Kelley, DeForrest Takei, George Doohan, James Nimoy, Leonard Butrick, Merritt Nichols, Nichelle Nichols, Nichelle McGinnis, Scott
.
Director: Nimoy, Leonard	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com You didn't think Mr. Spock was really dead, did you? When Spock's casket landed on the surface of the Genesis planet at the end of Star Trek II, we had already been told that Genesis had the power to bring "life from lifelessness." So it's no surprise that this energetic but somewhat hokey sequel gives Spock a new lease on life, beginning with his rebirth and rapid growth as the Genesis planet literally shakes itself apart in a series of tumultuous geological spasms. As Kirk is getting to know his estranged son (Merritt Butrick), he must also do battle with the fiendish Klingon Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), who is determined to seize the power of Genesis from the Federation. Meanwhile, the regenerated Spock returns to his home planet, and Star Trek III gains considerable interest by exploring the ceremonial (and, of course, highly logical) traditions of Vulcan society. The movie's a minor disappointment compared to Star Trek II, but it's a--well, logical--sequel that successfully restores Spock (and first-time film director Leonard Nimoy) to the phenomenal Trek franchise...as if he were ever really gone. With Kirk's willful destruction of the U.S.S. Enterprise and Robin Curtis replacing the departing Kirstie Alley as Vulcan Lt. Saavik, this was clearly a transitional film in the series, clearing the way for the highly popular Star Trek IV. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features Star Trek III: The Search for Spock follows the same winning formula of the first two Star Trek special-edition DVD releases, although it has no extra footage as The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan did. The first disc presents the film with an audio commentary track, the bulk of it handled (appropriately) by director Leonard Nimoy. He doesn't do it in character as Spock, but rather chortles and gushes about his cast and crew, especially William Shatner. Other contributors include Robin... read more

Star Trek V - The Final Frontier (Special Edition)
.
Starring: Shatner, William Nimoy, Leonard Cooper, Charles Warner, David Nimoy, Leonard Nichols, Nichelle Takei, George Doohan, James Doohan, James Luckinbill, Laurence
.
Director: Shatner, William	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 4.7/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com Movie critic Roger Ebert summed it up very succinctly: "Of all of the Star Trek movies, this is the worst." Subsequent films in the popular series have done nothing to disprove this opinion; we can be grateful that they've all been significantly better since this film was released in 1989. After Leonard Nimoy scored hits with Star Trek III and IV, William Shatner used his contractual clout (and bruised ego) to assume directorial duties on this mission, in which a rebellious Vulcan (Laurence Luckinbill) kidnaps Federation officials in his overzealous quest for the supreme source of creation. That's right, you heard it correctly: Star Trek V is about a crazy Vulcan's search for God. By the time Kirk, Spock, and their Federation cohorts are taken to the Great Barrier of the galaxy, this journey to "the final future" has gone from an embarrassing prologue to an absurd conclusion, with a lot of creaky plotting in between. Of course, die-hard Trekkies will still allow this movie into their video collections; but they'll only watch it when nobody else is looking. After this humbling experience, Shatner wisely relinquished the director's chair to Star Trek II's Nicholas Meyer. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)
.
Starring: Shatner, William Nimoy, Leonard Kelley, DeForest Nimoy, Leonard Nichols, Nichelle Takei, George Iman Doohan, James Doohan, James Plummer, Christopher
.
Director: Meyer, Nicholas	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Star Trek V left us nowhere to go but up, and with the return of Star Trek II director Nicholas Meyer, Star Trek VI restored the movie series to its classic blend of space opera, intelligent plotting, and engaging interaction of stalwart heroes and menacing villains. Borrowing its subtitle (and several lines of dialogue) from Shakespeare, the movie finds Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) and his fellow Enterprise crew members on a diplomatic mission to negotiate peace with the revered Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner). When the high-ranking Klingon and several officers are ruthlessly murdered, blame is placed on Kirk, whose subsequent investigation uncovers an assassination plot masterminded by the nefarious Klingon General Chang (Christopher Plummer) in an effort to disrupt a historic peace summit. As this political plot unfolds, Star Trek VI takes on a sharp-edged tone, with Kirk and Spock confronting their opposing views of diplomacy, and testing their bonds of loyalty when a Vulcan officer is revealed to be a traitor. With a dramatic depth befitting what was to be the final movie mission of the original Star Trek crew, this film took the veteran cast out in respectably high style. With the torch being passed to the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation, only Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov would return, however briefly, in Star Trek: Generations. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features The Special Edition DVD of Star Trek VI includes two scenes that were not in the theatrical cut but were released on VHS: a briefing with the president of Earth (Rene Auberjonois, who would later play Odo in Deep Space Nine, appears) and a scene in the Enterprise-D's torpedo bay. Those who admire Nicholas Meyer's contributions to the even-numbered films in the series will enjoy his commentary track with cowriter Denny Martin Flinn. As he did on The Wrath of Khan, he talks about being an... read more

Star Trek: Nemesis
.
Starring: Spiner, Brent Stewart, Patrick Hardy, Tom McFadden, Gates Frakes, Jonathan Burton, LeVar Sirtis, Marina Dorn, Michael Dorn, Michael
.
Director: Baird, Stuart	Rating: PG-13	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDB)	Color DigitalSound

In STAR TREK: NEMESIS, based on the STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION television series, the USS Enterprise is gearing up for a challenging mission. While responding to a call from the Romulan neutral zone, the crew comes across a signal on the nearby planet Remus. It turns out to be Data's (Brent Spiner) less advanced brother, B-4 (also played by Spiner). Soon thereafter, Picard is confronted by Shinzon (Tom Hardy), who makes an offer of peace on behalf of the Romulans. As Starfleet enters into negotiations, they realize this treaty may have a twist. Shinzon presents himself as a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), and as a simultaneous friend and foe. Though the baby faced Shinzon wears an intimidating shiny black metallic suit of armor, and spits his words through a nasty sneer, he is clearly no match for Picard. Meanwhile Data has a nifty side project debugging his clone, whose intentions are not as innocent as they may seem. As tension mounts between the crew of the Starship Enterprise and Shinzon's Reman minions, resulting in riveting high-tech deep-space battle, a vital sacrifice must be made to save the day. STAR TREK: NEMESIS's shocking ending will leave viewers hanging, anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Neeson, Liam McGregor, Ewan Portman, Natalie Lloyd, Jake August, Pernilla Oz, Frank McDiarmid, Ian Davies, Oliver Ford Davies, Oliver Ford Best, Ahmed
.
Director: Lucas, George	Rating: PG	Running Time: 133 min
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com "I have a bad feeling about this," says the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace as he steps off a spaceship and into the most anticipated cinematic event... well, ever. He might as well be speaking for the legions of fans of the original episodes in the Star Wars saga who can't help but secretly ask themselves: Sure, this is Star Wars, but is it my Star Wars? The original elevated moviegoers' expectations so high that it would have been impossible for any subsequent film to meet them. And as with all the Star Wars movies, The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a mŽlange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park. Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics. Near the end of the movie, Palpatine, the new leader of the Republic, may be speaking for fans eagerly awaiting Episode II when he pats young Anakin on the head and says, "We will watch your career with great interest." Indeed! --Tod Nelson --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features The spectacular DVD release of Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace--arguably one of the best DVDs ever--will go a long way toward making it up to Star Wars fans who were disappointed by the theatrical release. (But, in case you're wondering, there's no option to delete Jar Jar.) The picture and sound are outstanding, it's loaded with bonuses, and even the menus are action-packed fun. Disc One includes the film with a commentary track by George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben... read more Description Feature-Length Audio Commentary The creators of Episode I give you insight into the film like no one else can. Hear from: writer/director George Lucas, Producer Rick McCallum, sound designer and film co-editor Ben Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires. "The Beginning" Making Episode I Documentary Film Culled from over 600 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, this all-new hour-long documentary film takes you inside Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic during the making of The Phantom Menace. Sit in on the film's production process including: pre-production, casting, principal photography, editing, rough-cut reviews, visual effects meetings and other events that few people have had access to before. Exclusive Deleted Scenes and Documentary All-new documentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum and guests discussing the painstaking process every director must go through in determining what scenes make the final cut. View seven exclusive deleted sequences that were created specifically for this DVD and le

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: McGregor, Ewan Portman, Natalie Christensen, Hayden Baker, Kenny Smits, Jimmy Neeson, Liam Oz, Frank Portman, Natalie Portman, Natalie McDiarmid, Ian
.
Director: Lucas, George	Rating: PG	Running Time: 2 Hours 22 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones is a superior DVD, repeating many of the elements that made its predecessor, Episode I, The Phantom Menace, so good. The picture and sound are spectacular, helped immensely by the fact that the film was shot entirely in digital, making this the first live-action direct digital-to-digital DVD transfer. This version of the film was the one shown in digital-projection theaters; there are subtle differences from the standard theatrical version, such as... read more

Star Wars - Episode IV, A New Hope
.
Starring: Hamill, Mark Ford, Harrison Fisher, Carrie Cushing, Peter Guinness, Alec Daniels, Anthony Baker, Kenny Mayhew, Peter Mayhew, Peter Jones, James Earl
.
Director: Lucas, George	Rating: PG	Running Time: 125 min (special edition)
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.8/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound,

Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Again? Yes. Even though no other movie has been released as many times on video as Star Wars (except for its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), George Lucas and the folks at 20th Century Fox have actually released a slightly different film this time. This video followed the mega-successful 20th-anniversary theatrical rerelease, in which Lucas personally remastered the image and sound quality of his baby. Other revisions are more obvious, if hardly radical. Lucas enhanced several special effects with updated computer technology--most noticeable are the explosions and removal of matte lines during the Death Star battle finale. And the creatures that populate Mos Eisley's spaceport--though meticulous--are aesthetically superior improvements. The inclusion of extra scenes (originally outtakes), however, is not an improvement. Both the meeting between Jabba the Hutt and Han Solo, and Luke talking with his childhood pal Biggs, do nothing to enhance character development or theme, and serve only as distractions that preoccupy the waiting viewer. And, really couldn't Lucas find something better to do with his time than mess around with a national treasure? As for the video, this boasts both visual and sound enhancements. But since Star Wars has been available with these tweaks numerous times before, the decision whether to purchase this latest new version depends on how badly you want to see Lucas's cosmetic surgery. --Dave McCoy --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

Star Wars - Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back
.
Starring: Hamill, Mark Ford, Harrison Fisher, Carrie Williams, Billy Dee Daniels, Anthony Prowse, David Mayhew, Peter Baker, Kenny Baker, Kenny Guinness, Alec
.
Director: Kershner, Irvin	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.7/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound,

Amazon.com The middle film in George Lucas's enormously popular Star Wars science fiction trilogy is a darker, more somber entry, considered by many fans as the best in the series. Gone is the jaunty swashbuckling of the first film; the rebellion led by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) suffers before the superior forces of the Empire, young hero Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) faces his first defeats as he attempts to harness the Force under the tutelage of Jedi master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz), and cocky Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is betrayed by former ally Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams). In the tradition of the great serials, this film is left with a hefty cliffhanger. The leap in special effects technology in the three years since Star Wars results in an amazing array of effects, including a breathtaking chase through an asteroid field and a dazzling, utopian Cloud City, where Luke faces the black-clad villain Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones) in a futuristic sword fight and learns the secret of his Jedi father. Veteran director Irvin Kershner (The Eyes of Laura Mars, Never Say Never Again) took the directorial reins from creator and producer Lucas and invested the light-speed adventure with deeper characters and a more emphatic sense of danger. The special edition expands Luke's encounter with the Abominable Snowman-esque wampa and establishes the creature as a tangibly more terrifying beast, in addition to refining many of the existing effects. The trilogy is concluded in The Return of the Jedi. --Sean Axmaker

Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi
.
Starring: Hamill, Mark Ford, Harrison Fisher, Carrie Williams, Billy Dee Daniels, Anthony Mayhew, Peter Oz, Frank Jones, James Earl Jones, James Earl Guinness, Alec
.
Director: Marquand, Richard	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound,

Amazon.com The high-energy, special-effects-laden conclusion to George Lucas's ambitious Star Wars trilogy delivers the final confrontation between Luke Skywalker (a more confident and mature Mark Hamill) and his nemesis-father, Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones), as the rebel alliance makes its last stand against the evil Empire. The film opens with an impressive set piece in the cave of the monstrous Jabba the Hut, who holds both Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) for his decadent pleasure until Skywalker comes to the rescue. The final battle pits an enormous armada of rebel ships against the rebuilt Death Star, the planet-killing weapon of the first film, while guerrilla forces battle Empire soldiers on the planet below with the help of a cuddly army of pint-sized, teddy-bear-like creatures known as Ewoks (Lucas's one concession to merchandising) and Skywalker confronts Vader and the emperor on the Deathstar. Director Richard Marquand invests the tale with plenty of humor and a vigorous sense of adventure without losing the seriousness of Skywalker's mission. The special edition adds, among other effects, more creatures and a bouncy song-and-dance number to the Jabba the Hut scenes, and an extended celebration that literally encompasses the galaxy at the film's jubilant conclusion. --Sean Axmaker

Stargate (Ultimate Edition)
.
Starring: Russell, Kurt Spader, James Davidson, Jaye Diehl, John Leonardi, Mario Maggio, Pupella Fossey, Brigitte Spader, James Spader, James Noiret, Philippe
.
Director: Emmerich, Roland	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.3/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com Before they unleashed the idiotic mayhem of Independence Day and Godzilla, the idea-stealing team of director Roland Emmerich and producer-screenwriter Dean Devlin concocted this hokey hit about the discovery of an ancient portal capable of zipping travelers to "the other side of the known universe." James Spader plays the Egyptologist who successfully translates the Stargate's hieroglyphic code, and then joins a hawkish military unit (led by Kurt Russell) on a reconnaissance mission to see what's on the other side. They arrive on a desert world with cultural (and apparently supernatural) ties to Earth's ancient Egypt, where the sun god Ra (played by Jaye Davidson from The Crying Game) rules a population of slaves with armored minions and startlingly advanced technology. After being warmly welcomed into the slave camp, the earthlings encourage and support a rebellion, and while Russell threatens to blow up the Stargate to prevent its use by enemy forces, the movie collapses into a senseless series of action scenes and grandiose explosions. It's all pretty ridiculous, but Stargate found a large and appreciative audience, spawned a cable-TV series, and continues to attract science fiction fans who are more than willing to forgive its considerable faults. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features Nothing beats a sci-fi movie with wall-shaking sound, and the Stargate Ultimate Edition delivers the goods with 6.1 DTS ES and 5.1 Dolby Digital EX. Yes, Stargate has been released on DVD numerous times, but this 2003 version is the best yet, with improved sound and a generally clean picture that's now anamorphic widescreen rather than letterbox. Held over from the previous Special Edition are the combination of the theatrical cut and director's cut (nine minutes longer), and a commentary... read more

T2 - Extreme DVD
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Hamilton, Linda Furlong, Edward Morton, Joe Furlong, Edward Boen, Earl Merkerson, S. Epatha Guerra, Castulo Guerra, Castulo Goldstein, Jenette
.
Director: Cameron, James	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 32 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video After he pushed the envelope of computer-generated special effects in The Abyss, director James Cameron turned this hotly anticipated sequel to Terminator into a well-written, action-packed showcase for advanced special effects and for one of the most invincible villains ever imagined. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a legitimate sequel: there's more story to tell about a hulking, leather-clad android (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who arrives from the future to protect a rebellious teenager and future leader (Edward Furlong) from being killed by the tenacious T-1000 robot (Robert Patrick), whose liquid-metal construction makes him seemingly unstoppable. The fate of the future lies in the balance, with Linda Hamilton (who would later marry her director) reprising her role as the rugged woman whose son will change the course of history. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features Because the Terminator 2 Ultimate Edition set the standard for feature-packed DVDs when it was released back in 2000, is there a need for an Extreme Edition? The simple answer is yes. The 2003 Extreme Edition features a brand-new, better-looking transfer and an extremely powerful and involving Dolby 5.1 EX soundtrack. (The Ultimate's DTS track might have had a bit more detail, but it had to be sacrificed due to disc space.) The Extreme Edition focuses on the extended version of the film, but... read more Description He said he'd be back. This time experience T2 like never before! Go EXTREME with the best picture and sound ever! ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER returns as the Terminator in this explosive action-adventure spectacle. Now he's one of the good guys, sent back in time to protect John Connor, the boy destined to lead the freedom fighters of the future. LINDA HAMILTON reprises her role as Sarah Connor, John's mother, a quintessential survivor who has been institutionalized for her warning of the nuclear holocaust she knows is inevitable. Together, the threesome must find a way to stop the ultimate enemy - the T-1000, the most lethal Terminator ever created. Co-written, produced and directed by James Cameron ("The Terminator," "Aliens," "Titanic), this visual tour de force is also a touching story of survival.

Terminator (Special Edition), The
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Biehn, Michael Hamilton, Linda Hamilton, Linda Biehn, Michael Henriksen, Lance Paxton, Bill Winfield, Paul Winfield, Paul Boen, Earl
.
Director: Cameron, James	Rating: R	Running Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.9/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video This is the film that cemented Schwarzenegger's spot in the action-brawn firmament, and it was well deserved. He's chilling as the futuristic cyborg who kills without fear, without love, without mercy. James Cameron's story and direction are pared to the bone and all the more creepy. But don't overlook the contributions of Linda Hamilton, who more than holds her own as the Terminator's would-be victim, Sarah Connor--thus creating, along with Sigourney Weaver in Alien, a new generation of rugged, clear-thinking female action stars. It's surprising how well this film holds up, and how its minimalist, malevolent violence is actually way scarier than that of its far more expensive, more effects-laden sequel. --Anne Hurley --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition. DVD features The Terminator is back, and it's better looking and louder than ever. The cleaned-up print of this DVD is a revelation, as is the digitally remastered Dolby 5.1 EXsoundtrack: from the opening MGM lion's roar to the crunch of Arnold Schwarzenegger's boots and the pounding of Brad Fiedel's techno-industrial score, both picture and sound are of a quality that belie the movie's age. The first side of the disc has the movie plus a DVD-ROM feature containing three different versions of the screenplay.... read more

Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (The Ultimate Edition DVD)
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Hamilton, Linda Furlong, Edward Patrick, Robert Boen, Earl Morton, Joe Merkerson, S. Epatha Guerra, Castulo Guerra, Castulo Berkeley, Xander
.
Director: Cameron, James	Rating: R	Running Time: 145 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Stahl, Nick Danes, Claire Stahl, Nick Danes, Claire Loken, Kristanna Famiglietti, Mark Harris, Moira Harris, Moira Lawford, Christopher
.
Director: Mostow, Jonathan	Rating: R	Running Time: 1 Hour 49 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.0/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com With a reported budget of $172 million, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines starts in high gear and never slows down. The apocalyptic "Judgment Day" of T2 was never prevented, only postponed: John Connor (Nick Stahl, replacing T2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being pursued yet again, this time by the advanced T-X, a sleek "Terminatrix" (coldly expressionless Kristanna Loken) programmed to stop Connor from becoming the savior of humankind. Originally programmed as an assassin, a disadvantaged T-101 cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger, bidding fond farewell to his signature role) arrives from the future to join Connor and his old acquaintance Kate (Claire Danes) in thwarting the T-X's relentless pursuit. The plot presents a logical fulfillment of T2 prophesy, disposing of Connor's mother (Linda Hamilton is sorely missed) while computer-driven machines assume control, launching a nuclear nightmare that Connor must survive. With Breakdown and U-571 serving as worthy rehearsals for this cautionary epic of mass destruction, director Jonathan Mostow wisely avoids any stylistic connection to James Cameron's Terminator classics; instead he's crafted a fun, exciting popcorn thriller, humorous and yet still effectively nihilistic, and comparable to Jurassic Park III in returning the Terminator franchise to its potent B-movie roots. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features There's only one deleted scene in this two-disc DVD set, but it's a doozy. The "Sgt. Candy Scene" is a must-see and, unfortunately, the best thing on the second disc. The rushed HBO documentary shows us far more flash than substance. Better is the Visual Effects Lab that goes more in-depth with four sequences, although you need to wade through a hokey interface for each segment. Making your "own" effects isn't that much fun; you can only choose a few effects that change in two scenes. Anyone... read more Description A decade has passed since John Connor (NICK STAHL) helped prevent Judgment Day and save mankind from mass destruction. Now 25, Connor lives "off the grid" - no home, no credit cards, no cell phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way he can be traced by Skynet - the highly developed network of machines that once tried to kill him and wage war on humanity. Until?out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (KRISTANNA LOKEN), Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Sent back through time to complete the job left unfinished by her predecessor, the T-1000, this machine is as relentless as her human guise is beautiful. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER), his mysterious former assassin. Together, they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day?or face the apocalypse and the fall of civilization as we know it.

Timeline
.
Starring: Connolly, Billy O'Connor, Frances Butler, Gerard Walker, Paul Friel, Anna Thewlis, David Embry, Ethan McDonough, Neal McDonough, Neal
.
Director: Donner, Richard	Rating: PG-13	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Mono

The archaeological excavation at La Roque Castle in Castelgard, France, appears to be like any other dig. At least it does until archaeology student Kate (Frances O'Connor) and assistant professor Andre Marek (Gerard Butler) discover a note dated 1357 from their boss, Professor Edward Johnston (Billy Connolly), in a chamber that has been sealed since the mid-14th century. Knowing that Johnston is visiting the dig's main funder--cutting-edge computer company ITC--Kate and Marek head for corporate headquarters along with Johnston's son Chris (Paul Walker) and team members Stern (Ethan Embry) and Francois (Rossif Sutherland). To their astonishment, the team finds that ITC inadvertently discovered a wormhole leading to Castelgard circa 1357, that they have the ability to transport 3D objects through the hole, and that Johnston is trapped there with the team being his only hope for rescue. But is ITC telling them the whole truth? And can the team journey back in time and return to the 21st century with the professor without changing the course of history? Only time will tell. TIMELIME is directed by Richard Donner (LADYHAWKE, the LETHAL WEAPON series) and also features Anna Friel, Neal McDonough, David Thewlis, and Lambert Wilson.

Titan A.E.
.
Starring:
.
Director:	Rating: PG	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color DigitalSound

Spectacular animation, combining two- and three-dimensional techniques with stunning special effects, is TITAN A.E.'s mark of distinction. Directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (ANASTASIA) make their first foray into science fiction with this film, which is the first U.S.-produced animated science fiction film in more than 20 years. The story is a classic bildungsroman, following the journey of Cale, a young man who holds the destiny of humankind in his hand--literally. Opening with the stunning destruction of earth as seen from space, the film launches the audience into a seamlessly imagined universe in which the alien Drej have turned humans into homeless ŽmigrŽs, searching desperately for a new world. Cale (voiced by Matt Damon) is haunted by the legacy of his father, who abandoned him but created the spaceship Titan, which holds the key to the new home of humankind. With the plan for Titan imprinted in his hand, Cale is swept from a life of lonely drudgery devoid of female companionship into the colorful crew of mysterious Captain Korso (voiced by Bill Pullman). On the Valkyrie ship, Cale enjoys KorsoÀs crew, including the kind, beautiful, and expert woman pilot Akima (voiced by Drew Barrymore) along with a strange but fascinating band of aliens.

Total Recall (Special Limited Edition)
.
Starring: Schwarzenegger, Arnold Stone, Sharon
.
Director: Verhoeven, Paul	Rating: R	Running Time:
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color Dolby

Amazon.com essential video This science fiction blockbuster from 1990 began its production life as a very different movie than the one that was released. An adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," Total Recall was originally conceived of with Richard Dreyfuss starring as a Walter Mitty-like character who experiences a variety of artificially induced fantasies. The movie we know is a mega-budget action epic set on Mars. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a normal working man who discovers that his entire reality has been invented to conceal a plot of planetary domination. Oscar-winning special effects and violent action propel the twisting plot, in which Arnold manipulates his manipulators in a world of dazzling high technology. Director Paul Verhoeven (Robocop) indulges his usual penchant for gratuitous bloodshed, but the movie has enough cleverness to rise above its excesses. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the DVD edition. Additional features Director Paul Verhoeven and star Arnold Schwarzenegger have their own ideas about what's really going on in Total Recall, and offer an entertaining commentary track on Artisan's special limited edition. They make their case, to the glee of conspiracy buffs, by pointing out every clue and discussing every twist in perspective. The original documentary featurette "Imagining Total Recall" crams dozens of interviews into a tight, if brief, 30-minute program covering the entire production history,... read more

Tron (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
.
Starring: Bridges, Jeff Boxleitner, Bruce Warner, David Boxleitner, Bruce Hughes, Barnard Shor, Dan Jurasik, Peter Stephano, Tony Stephano, Tony Jr., Vince Deadrick
.
Director: Lisberger, Steven	Rating: PG	Running Time: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com The surprising truth about Disney's 1982 computer-game fantasy is that it's still visually impressive (though technologically quaint by later high-definition standards) and a lot of fun. It's about a computer wizard named Flynn (Jeff Bridges) who is digitally broken down into a data stream by a villainous software pirate (David Warner) and reconstituted into the internal, 3-D graphical world of computers. It is there, in the blazingly colorful, geometrically intense landscapes of cyberspace, that Flynn joins forces with Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) to outmaneuver the Master Control program that holds them captive in the equivalent of a gigantic, infinitely challenging computer game. Disney's wizards used a variety of cinematic techniques and early-'80s state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics to accomplish their dynamic visual goals, and the result was a milestone in cyberentertainment, catering to technogeeks while providing a dazzling adventure for hackers and nonhackers alike. Appearing just in time to celebrate the nascent cyberpunk movement in science fiction, Tron received a decidedly mixed reaction when originally released, but has since become a high-tech favorite and a landmark in special effects, with a loyal following of fans. DVD is a perfect format for the movie's neon-glow color scheme, and the musical score by synthesizer pioneer Wendy Carlos is faithfully preserved on the digitally remastered soundtrack. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the DVD edition. Additional features A new 90-minute documentary on the origins and making of Tron anchors this two-disc, 20th-anniversary set, and does a good job of showing the remarkable odds the filmmakers faced. The 15 minutes of computer graphics in the film were developed when this science was in the infant stages; programming often came down to punching numbers into a spreadsheet. Many fans will be surprised to learn how much of the film relies on backlight compositions and "old-fashioned" hand-drawn animation, not a... read more

Twilight Zone: Vol. 3, The
.
Starring: Serling, Rod
.
Director: Lupino, Ida	Rating: NR	Running Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Black & White Stereo

Description Episodes: "Steel" (Ep. 122, October 4, 1963) - In the future, only androids are allowed to box. Desperate to raise money, penniless manager Steel Kelly (Lee Marvin) must fight disguised as his own broken-down robot. "A Game of Pool" (Ep. 70, October 13, 1961) - Jesse (Jack Klugman) is a brilliant pool player whose dream of a showdown with the legendary (and dead) Fats Brown (Jonathan Winters) comes true. The stakes: his life. "Walking Distance" (Ep. 5, October 30, 1959) - Martin Sloan (Gig Young) is a frazzled executive who learns that you can't go home again after he steps back in time and meets his mom, his dad--and himself! "Kick the Can" (Ep. 86, February 9, 1962) - Has an old man at Sunnyvale Rest Home discovered a secret to regaining youth? After playing a simple child's game, he and the other residents are rewarded with rejuvenating powers!

Unbreakable (Vista Series)
.
Starring: Willis, Bruce Jackson, Samuel L. Wright, Robin Wright Penn, Robin Treat Clark, Spencer Walker, Eamonn Stefanson, Leslie Jamison, Johnny Hiram Jamison, Johnny Hiram Christopher, Bostin
.
Director: Shyamalan, M. Night	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.1/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com essential video When Unbreakable was released, Bruce Willis confirmed that the film was the first in a proposed trilogy. Viewed in that context, this is a tantalizing and audaciously low-key thriller, with a plot that twists in several intriguing and unexpected directions. Standing alone, however, this somber, deliberately paced film requires patient leaps of faith--not altogether surprising, since this is writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's daring follow-up to The Sixth Sense. While just as assured as that earlier, phenomenal hit, Unbreakable is the work of a filmmaker whose skill exceeds his maturity, its confident style serving a story that borders on juvenile. However, Shyamalan's basic premise--that comic books are the primary conduit of modern mythology--is handled with substantial relevance. Willis plays a Philadelphia security guard whose marriage is on the verge of failing when he becomes the sole, unscathed survivor of a devastating train wreck. When prompted by a mysterious, brittle-boned connoisseur of comic books (Samuel L. Jackson), he realizes that he's been free of illness and injury his entire life, lending credence to Jackson's theory that superheroes--and villains--exist in reality, and that Willis himself possesses extraordinary powers. Shyamalan presents these revelations with matter-of-fact gravity, and he draws performances (including those of Robin Wright Penn and Spencer Treat Clark, as Willis's wife and son) that are uniformly superb. The film's climactic revelation may strike some as ultimately silly and trivial, but if you're on Shyamalan's wavelength, the entire film will assume a greater degree of success and achievement. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. DVD features Although this DVD is wrapped in the handsome packaging of the "Vista Series," the extras here are minimal. The first disc has no extras but is packed with four separate Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks and is THX certified. The second disc holds four features, including a standard making-of featurette (15 minutes long) and a nifty segment that allows viewers to compare the storyboards to the final film and separate the music and sound effects in the train station sequence. More satisfying is the... read more

Underworld (Widescreen Edition)
.
Starring: Beckinsale, Kate Speedman, Scott Sheen, Michael Sheen, Michael Grevioux, Kevin Brolly, Shane Myles, Sophia Gee, Robbie Gee, Robbie McBride, Danny
.
Director: Wiseman, Len	Rating: R	Running Time: 2 Hours 1 Minute
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.3/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Blade meets The Crow and The Matrix in Underworld, a hybrid thriller that rewrites the rulebook on werewolves and vampires. It's a "cuisinart" movie (blend a lot of familiar ideas and hope something interesting happens) in which immortal vampire "death dealers" wage an ancient war against "Lycans" (werewolves), who've got centuries of revenge--and some rather ambitious genetic experiments--on their lycanthropic agenda. Given his preoccupation with gloomy architecture (mostly filmed in Budapest, Hungary), frenetic mayhem and gothic costuming, it's no surprise that first-time director Len Wiseman gained experience in TV commercials and the art departments of Godzilla, Men in Black, and Independence Day. His work is all surface, no substance, filled with derivative, grand-scale action as conflicted vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale, who later became engaged to Wiseman) struggles to rescue an ill-fated human (Scott Speedman) from Lycan transformation. It's great looking all the way, and a guaranteed treat for horror buffs, who will eagerly dissect its many strengths and weaknesses. --Jeff Shannon DVD features The Underworld DVD has a powerful soundtrack that makes good use of ambient noises (e.g., bullet casings pinging on the floor) and has a clear, well-defined picture, which is especially impressive considering the film's predominant look is black leather at nighttime. The first segment of the four-part, 54-minute documentary is mostly self-congratulation and plot summary (which is not necessarily a bad thing); more interesting are the creature effects and the actors learning how to do their own... read more Description Underneath the city streets, amid the labyrinth of subway tunnels and gothic ruins, the two most notorious creatures of the night are embroiled in an all-out war that has been going on for centuries. It is the culmination of a blood-thirsty battle between the vampires and their mortal enemies, the werewolves. Stars: Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor, My Life Without Me), Scott Speedman (My Life Without Me, TV's "Felicity").

What Dreams May Come
.
Starring: Williams, Robin Jr., Cuba Gooding Fromage, Marty Gooding Jr., Cuba Sciorra, Annabella Von Sydow, Max Sydow, Max von Chao, Rosalind Chao, Rosalind Bonet, Wilma
.
Director: Ward, Vincent	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 114 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 6.2/10 (IMDB)	Color Dolby

Amazon.com Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra star in this visually stunning metaphysical tale of life after death. Neurologist Chris and artist Annie had the perfect life until they lost their children in an auto accident; they're just starting to recover when Chris meets an untimely death himself. He's met by a messenger named Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and taken to his own personal afterlife--a freshly drawn world reminiscent of Annie's own artwork, still dripping and wet with paint. Meanwhile a depressed Annie takes her own life, compelling Chris to traverse heaven and hell to save Annie from an eternity of despair. The multitextured visuals seem to have been created from a lost fairy tale. Heaven recalls the landscape paintings of Thomas Cole and Renaissance architecture complete with floating cherubs, while hell is a massive shipwreck, an upside-down cathedral overgrown with thorns and a sea of groaning faces popping out of the ground (one of those faces is German director Werner Herzog). Williams is the perfect actor to play against the imaginative computer-generated imagery--he himself is a human special effect. But the lack of chemistry between Williams and Sciorra is painfully apparent, and the flashback plot structure flattens the story's impact despite its deeply felt examinations of the heart and the spirit. Still, there's no denying Eugenio Zanetti's triumphant production design and the Oscar-winning special effects, which create a fully formed universe that is at once beautiful, eerie, and a unique example of movie magic. --Shannon Gee

X-Files - The Complete First Season, The
.
Starring: X-Files Duchovny, David Hardin, Jerry Hardin, Jerry Cioffi, Charles Hutchison, Doug Pileggi, Mitch Ansley, Zachary Ansley, Zachary Stewart, Malcolm
.
Director: Duchovny, David	Rating: NR	Running Time: 18 Hours 24 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.5/10 (IMDB)	Color Stereo

Amazon.com In the first season of The X-Files, creator Chris Carter was uncertain of the series' future, so each of the episodes is a self-contained suspense story; they do not delve deep into the ongoing X-Files mythology or turn to self-parody and humor as do episodes in later seasons. Yet, these episodes display the elements for which the show would become famous: the cinematic production values and top-notch special effects, the stark lighting of the Vancouver sets, the atmospheric halo of Mark Snow's score, and the clever plots dealing with subjects ranging from the occult, religion, and monsters to urban legends, conspiracy theories, and science fiction. Most importantly, season 1 introduces FBI agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox "Spooky" Mulder (David Duchovny), two of the most attractive government officials around. Scully is the serious-minded medical scientist assigned to join Mulder on the X-Files, a division of the FBI dealing with the paranormal. Mulder is the intuitive thinker with a dry wit, a passionate believer in the existence of paranormal phenomena and one of the few characters on television smart enough to figure out who the bad guy is before the audience does. Their muddled relationship, a deep friendship laced with sexual tension, provides the human heart in a world where the bizarre and horrible lurk in everyday society. The materials on the bonus disc provide some interesting trivia and background, but it is the 24 episodes themselves that make this seven-disc boxed set a true find. Those unfamiliar with The X-Files often view all the fuss with the same skepticism with which Scully first regards her new partner's ideas. But just as she comes to realize the uncanny accuracy of Mulder's outlandish theories, newcomers to The X-Files who sample a few episodes in this boxed set will likely find themselves riveted to their television late into the night. And undoubtedly, the shadows and creaking noises in the house that evening will seem more menacing than usual. --Eugene Wei

X-Files: Fight the Future, The
.
Starring: Duchovny, David Anderson, Gillian Mueller-Stahl, Armin Danner, Blythe Landau, Martin
.
Director: Bowman, Rob	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 122 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color THX Sound

Description: "...X-philes can look forward to appearances by series regulars..."

X-Men 1.5
.
Starring: Davison, Bruce Romijn-Stamos, Rebecca Mane, Tyler Park, Ray Ashmore, Shawn Davison, Bruce Berry, Halle Marsden, James Marsden, James Park, Ray
.
Director: Singer, Bryan	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 104 minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating:	Color THX Sound

Description: "...Singer is off to a nice start [in the planned series to follow]..." -- 3 out of 5 stars - A Satisfying Rental

X2 - X-Men United
.
Starring: Stewart, Patrick Jackman, Hugh McKellen, Ian Davison, Bruce Berry, Halle Janssen, Famke Paquin, Anna Cumming, Alan Cumming, Alan Marsden, James
.
Director: Singer, Bryan	Rating: PG-13	Running Time: 2 Hours 14 Minutes
.
Category: Sci-Fi	User Rating: 7.9/10 (IMDB)	Color DTS Surround Sound

Amazon.com X2 does a fine job of picking up where X-Men left off, giving fans more of what they liked the first time around. Under the serious-minded custody of returning director Bryan Singer, the second film of this Marvel comics franchise ups the ante on Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and the superhero mutants from the first film, pitting them against a mutant-hating scientist (Brian Cox) who's determined to wipe out the mutant race by tricking Xavier into abusing his telepathic powers. More a series of spectacles than a truly satisfying thriller, X2 introduces new mutant allies while giving each of the X-Men alumni--notably the temporarily helpful Magneto (Ian McKellen)--their own time in the spotlight. Well aware of the parallels between "mutantism" and virulent intolerance in the real world, Singer lends real gravity to the proceedings, injecting dramatic urgency into a continuing franchise that, in lesser hands, might've grown patently absurd. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. From the Back Cover Following a shocking attack on the President, the X-Men must stand united with their deadliest enemies to combat a menace that threatens every mutant on the planet - and possibly all of mankind. Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry lead an all-star cast in this dazzling, action-packed spectaclethat is "arguably the greatest superhero movie ever!" (Entertainment Weekly)