February 5, 2008|By Bruce Dancis, McClatchy Newspapers
*The Aristocats: Special Copy (G): Sort of a "Lady and the Tramp" for associates of the artful persuasion, this Disney activated affection from 1970 is about a boxy bobcat called Thomas O'Malley (voiced by Phil Harris) who comes to the aid of a comfortable cat called Dutchess (Eva Gabor) and her three kittens.
Extras: A behind-the-scenes documentary about Disney composers Richard and Robert Sherman (full disclosure: the Sherman Bros. are this writer's additional cousins), an alternate babe game, and an "Aristocats Scrapbook."
*Across the Universe (PG-13): Administrator Julie Taymor deserves acclaim for adroitness in this not-entirely-successful attack to apply songs by the Beatles -- articulate by the cast, including stars Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess, and danced in big assembly numbers -- to acquaint the adventure of the 1960s antiwar movement and counterculture.
Extras: Annotation by Taymor and artisan Elliot Goldenthal (Taymor's husband), a deleted scene, eight connected agreeable performances and bristles abbreviate documentaries on the authoritative of the movie, its casting and the music.
*Elizabeth: The Golden Age (PG-13): Oscar appointee Cate Blanchett allotment to her role as England's Queen Elizabeth I nine years afterwards authoritative Elizabeth, her administration now threatened by betrayal aural her ancestors and the advancing Spanish Armada. Blanchett joins administrator Shekhar Kapur and amateur Geoffrey Rush from the aboriginal film; Clive Owens co-stars as Sir Walter Raleigh.
Extras: Audio annotation by Kapur, deleted scenes, and four abbreviate documentaries on the authoritative of the blur and its architecture -- from scenes in celebrated English churches to the CGI assembly of the Spanish Armada.
*The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (R): Brad Pitt stars as the belled 19th-century outlaw Jesse James, and Casey Affleck (an Oscar appointee for best acknowledging actor) plays James' acquaintance and battling Robert Ford in administrator Andrew Dominik's film.
Extra: A 30-minute documentary, "The Assassination of Jesse James: Death of an Outlaw."
*The Jane Austen Book Club (PG-13): Adapted from a atypical by Karen Joy Fowler, this adventurous ball is about bristles women and one man who apprehend and altercate Jane Austen's novels and acquisition their connected appliance to avant-garde hopes and dreams. Robin Swicord directs an accomplished ensemble cast, including Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman and Jimmy Smits.
Extras: Casting and aggregation commentary, seven deleted scenes and three abbreviate documentaries -- "The Authoritative of 'The Jane Austen Book Club,'" "The Life of Jane Austen" and "Character Deconstruction."
*Tootsie: 25th Ceremony Copy (PG): Dustin Hoffman gives one of his greatest performances as an out-of-work amateur who takes atrocious measures -- such as assuming as a woman -- to get a job on a TV soap opera.
Extras: The cine has been digitally remastered for this 25th ceremony DVD copy and comes with "A Better Man: The Authoritative of Tootsie," which includes contempo interviews with Hoffman and casting associates Jessica Lange (an Oscar champ for best acknowledging actress), Teri Garr and Dabney Coleman, administrator Sydney Pollack and writers Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, additional anew apparent deleted scenes and Hoffman's aboriginal screen-test footage.
