This week: Admit it, it's the highest grossing film of the year, but you never actually got around to seeing it.
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Don't let the playa haters fool you. This sequel is just as exciting as the original, and lacks maybe a fraction of its charm. My only beef is that the original had better sword fights. This one, however, brings the mad set pieces and answers a lot of questions you may not even remember as unanswered from the original. It also ends on a helluva cliffhanger that, for a series with spoilers a-plenty, I did not see coming.
A plethora of featurettes fill out the two-disc version, but if you just want the screenwriters' commentary, it's available on the regular edition.
Miami Vice (Unrated Director's Cut)
Critics found all of director Michael Mann's trademark style without any of his substance in this in-name-only adaptation of his hit '80s show. They also didn't really think Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx had any chemistry. And if you think either of those opinions are going to keep a Mann-i-ac like myself away from this, you are mistaken.
The director's cut adds seven minutes which I doubt fix the film's supposed flaws, but probably don't hurt, either.
Saturday Night Live - The Complete First Season
Remember when SNL was funnier than, say, the crappy variety show put on in Studio 60 (okay, nothing in real life is that crappy)? Remember when the only way to see the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players was to get the Best of Somebody DVD? Remember when Paul Simon was in pretty much every episode? Remember when they only had one black guy in the ensemble (um... maybe skip that last one)? Well, now you can see where it all started, uncut. Be warned, however; if you're looking for Bill Murray, you'll have to wait until season two.
Extras include screen tests and a photo book.
24 - Season Five
Just when 24 had a season that could not be topped, that hit heights unseen since season one, they topped it. Starting with a premiere that really did deliver on the whole you -won't-believe-the-first-five-minutes schtick and ending with a slam-bang finale that saw Jack take on his most powerful adversary yet, season five earned its three Emmys with tension to spare.
Plenty of extras including commentary and deleted scenes.
Dungeons & Dragons - The Complete Series
If you're like me, you completely geeked out to this series as a kid. You did not need to play D&D to enjoy this animated Saturday morning cartoon with a Scooby gang of adventurers trapped in the D&D realm with a Yoda-esque Dungeonmaster trying to guide them home. Apparently there were 27 episodes, though I only remember there being, like, six.
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