DVDs
THE MATRIX
The Ultimate Matrix Collection: Deluxe Limited Edition
(Warner, $130)No. of DVDs: 10
What's the big deal? A transparent case holds The Matrix (freshly remastered), the Reloaded and Revolutions sequels, and the Animatrix and Revisited DVDs - with plenty of room for other stuff, namely . . .
Extras: Five discs of other stuff, including two commentaries for each film (one by hostile critics - a DVD first), a 3-hour documentary, 100 featurettes, and 23 scenes shot for the videogame. Plus an 80-page book and a figurine of Neo.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Gift Set
(New Line, $80)No. of DVDs: 4
What's the big deal? Talk has been heard in the Shire of a strange new Director's Cut with nearly an hour of new scenes plus Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES soundtracks.
Extras: Hordes of documentaries, four commentary tracks, a figurine of Minas Tirith (City of Kings), a DVD on composer Howard Shore, and much more.
GONE WITH THE WIND
Collector's Edition
(Warner, $40)No. of DVDs: 4
What's the big deal? The 4-hour saga, spread across two discs, is restored frame by frame with the Ultra-Resolution process, using the film's original Technicolor elements. The soundtrack is remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 (with the original mono also included).
Extras: A new commentary, hour-long documentaries on Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, 45 minutes of Olivia de Havilland reminiscing, a 1989 making-of documentary, behind-the-scenes footage, and a 22-page booklet.
STAR WARS
Star Wars Trilogy
(Lucasfil m/ 20th Century Fox, $70)No. of DVDs: 4
What's the big deal? A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, all with computer-generated enhancements, frame-by-frame restored pictures that look better than you've ever seen, and Dolby Digital EX soundtracks.
Extras: A commentary by George Lucas, cast, and crew for each film plus a 2 1/2 -hour documentary, five featurettes, and plenty more.
STAR TREK
The Original Series: Season 1
(Paramount, $130)No. of DVDs: 8
What's the big deal? The TV show that launched a galaxy of spinoffs is remastered and remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 (original mono, too).
Extras: Five new featurettes - one on William Shatner - and interviews with other stars.
THE MARX BROTHERS
Silver Screen Collection
(Universal, $60)No. of DVDs: 5
What's the big deal? Just some of the funniest films ever made: Animal Crackers, The Cocoanuts, Horse Feathers, Monkey Business, and of course, Duck Soup.
Extras: None. (With this lineup, none needed.)
SEINFELD
Gift Set
(Columbia TriStar, $120)No. of DVDs: 8
What's the big deal? Jerry's finally on DVD, in the 40 episodes of Seasons 1, 2, and 3.
Extras: 24 hours' worth, including three feature-length documentaries and two versions of the pilot episode plus commentaries, featurettes, interviews, bloopers, Seinfeld standup footage, a script, notes from co-creator Larry David, playing cards, and Monk's Diner salt & pepper shakers.
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!
The Complete Collection
(Warner, $50)No. of DVDs: 4
What's the big deal? All three tributes to the classic MGM musicals, remastered in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.
Extras: A disc of treasures, including vintage documentaries, making-of featurettes, deleted numbers from the original musicals, outtakes, TV specials, and a new documentary with Ann Miller, Jane Powell, and Angela Lansbury.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Signature Collection
(Warner, $100)No. of DVDs: 10
What's the big deal? Newly remastered versions of Dial M for Murder, Foreign Correspondent, I Confess, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train, The Wrong Man, and Suspicion plus the previously released North by Northwest.
Extras: Each film comes with documentaries and newsreels. North by Northwest also has a commentary by screenwriter Ernest Lehman, and the two-disc Strangers on a Train has one by Peter Bogdanovich, Patricia Highsmith, and others.
OLIVER STONE
The Ultimate Oliver Stone Collection
(Warner, $130)No. of DVDs: 14
What's the big deal? It has a dozen features: Platoon, Salvador, Any Given Sunday, JFK, Heaven and Earth, Natural Born Killers, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July, Wall Street, Nixon, U-Turn, and The Doors. Plus three recent political documentaries.
Extras: Wait, don't see Alexander yet! This box has a free ticket for Stone's latest movie. There's also an in-depth documentary on his work.
