DVD reviews: 'Hannibal,' 'Batman'

By Paul Chambers
Special to CNN

(CNN) -- The creepy tones of Dr. Hannibal Lecter can be heard this weekend on a video player near you, as one of the biggest box office hits of 2001 arrives at video stores.

Also new on DVD this week: the campy comedy of "Batman: The Movie" and the gut-busting humor of "Waiting for Guffman."

Holy DVD, Batman! Let's get started:

"Hannibal" (MGM Home Entertainment)

By now you've heard someone say it: "Is this Clarice? Well, hello, Clarice." The year's scariest catchphrase comes from the hit movie "Hannibal," featuring the world's best-known gourmet bogeyman, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), reprising his role from 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs." Now MGM has cooked up a DVD version of the film that's well worth owning.

"Hannibal" is perhaps the most underrated hit of the year. Though millions saw it in the theater, a second look is definitely worthwhile. It's a lot easier to watch when you know where all the scary bits are located, and now viewers can appreciate the fine filmmaking talents of director Ridley Scott. A very well crafted horror movie with first-rate talent.

DVD extras: The two-disc set features more than 35 minutes of deleted scenes. The quality of these scenes is remarkable: almost any of them could have included in the theatrical release with positive effect. I was particularly impressed with the "Il Monstro" scene, a serial killer subplot left out of the theatrical version, in which one of the characters is revealed to be something more than what he seems. The new scene also explains much about other characters. Other extras include an unimpressive alternate ending, feature-length commentary by director Scott, a multi-angle version of the opening FBI shootout, and many others.

Rating: 9 out of 10

See also:
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Bloody 'Hannibal' lacks bite of 'Lambs'

"Batman: The Movie" 35th Anniversary Special Edition DVD (Fox Home Entertainment)

It seems like just yesterday my big brother took me to the Gemini Twin Drive-in movie theater in Dallas, Texas, to see the 1966 big-screen version of my favorite television show. Unfortunately, there's a hotel now where the theater used to be, but I can still re-live that night with the "Batman" DVD.

Adam West and Burt Ward star in this hastily made feature film that featured all four of their arch enemies, the Riddler (Frank Gorshin), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), the Joker (Cesar Romero) and Catwoman (the fetching Lee Meriweather). In addition, our caped crusading heroes used all of their extraordinary vehicles including the Batcopter, the Batcycle, and the famous Batmobile. If you're in a nostalgic frame of mind, this DVD will provide you with hours of nostalgic entertainment.

DVD extras: A new 16-minute feature with a much older Adam West and Burt Ward, optional running commentary by West and Ward, and a very interesting piece on the Batmobile with creator George Barris. Also included: behind-the-scenes still photos from the collection of Adam West and the original theatrical trailers in English and Spanish.

Rating: 7

"Waiting for Guffman" (Warner Home Video)

The comic genius of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy are most evident in this improvised gem about a sesquicentennial theatrical production in the quaint village of Blaine, Missouri. The town hears that a Broadway agent named Mort Guffman has promised to take a look at the community's production, "Red, White and Blaine," delighting the small-town players to no end. Priceless bits of town history, like how it became known as the "stool capital of the world" and Blaine's UFO encounter/pot luck dinner of 1946, are side-splittingly funny. The talented cast includes Guest, Levy, Lewis Arquette, Bob Balaban, Matt Keeslar, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey and Fred Willard. You will laugh until it hurts.

DVD extras: Feature-length commentary by Guest and Levy, so-so deleted scenes, theatrical trailer, cast/filmmaker profiles, and subtitles in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Wide-screen format.

Rating: 10

Other releases:

DVD and VHS:

"Live Nude Girls Unite!" (First Run Features)
"The Last Warrior" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"Dead Simple" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"Say It Isn't So" (Fox Home Entertainment)
"Wish Upon a Star" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"The Wicker Man" (extended version) (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
"Le Dernier Combat" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Reptilian" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)

VHS only:

"Air Jaws: Sharks of South Africa" (Artisan Home Entertainment)

DVD only:

"The Three Stooges: Dizzy Doctors, Termites of 1938, Brideless Groom, Listen Judge, Bubble Trouble, and The Tooth Will Out" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Safe" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Polyester" and "Desperate Living" boxed set (New Line Home Entertainment)
"42 Up" (First Run Features)
"The Silence of the Lambs Special Edition DVD" (MGM Home Entertainment)