Hollywood @ Home

DVD reviews: 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Almost Famous'

By Paul Chambers
Special to CNN

(CNN) -- This week, America pauses to remember the 60th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. If you hadn't remembered, Hollywood does: It's launching the DVD and video release of this year's mega-budgeted, mega-long "Pearl Harbor" this week to coincide with the event.

Also out this week: Young hunks in the Old West with "American Outlaws" and director Cameron Crowe's special longer version of "Almost Famous." It's all "happening" in this week's DVD reviews.

Ratings are on a 10-point scale.

"Pearl Harbor: 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" (2001) (Touchstone Home Video)

History comes alive in this film, but not until you get through the mondo-boring love story. As producer Jerry Bruckheimer and his team of pyrotechnical gurus tackle the most famous sneak attack in American history, it seemed logical that this famous tale be retold through the eyes of one or more central characters. But how could writer Randall Wallace ("Braveheart," "The Patriot") create such predictable people and such lame plotting for the pre-attack story? If you want to turn Pearl Harbor into a love story (or love triangle), then punch it up. It's hard to care for these kids when December 7 finally rolls around -- more than an hour into the film. The special effects, though, are breathtaking. They leave you drop-jawed and utterly convinced. The work by Industrial Light and Magic is likely to win many year-end honors.

DVD extras: The film is so long, it's actually on both of the discs (widescreen only). The changing of the discs is called "intermission." It's a long movie, folks -- three hours. There are also two fairly interesting documentaries, one on the making of the film and the other about some of the unsung heros of Pearl Harbor, the latter produced by the History Channel. The discs are THX-certified, and there's a special soundtrack just for headphones. Available languages are French and English. Spanish subtitles also available.

Rating: 6

Also:
Paul Clinton: Review: 'Pearl Harbor' hits some, misses much
Paul Tatara: Review: 'Pearl Harbor' a 'Titanic' ride, a movie zero

"Almost Famous: Untitled ... The Bootleg Cut" (2000) (DreamWorks Home Entertainment)

Director/writer Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical story, about a young music writer following the fictional Stillwater band in the early 1970's, gets even better with the additional 38 minutes of footage added in the director's cut. Many of the characters are more fully revealed and the extra time spent with them is well worth it. Even at the new time of 2 hours, 42 minutes, it's a breeze. Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson and Frances McDormand are standouts among a very fine cast.

DVD extras: The two-disc set also includes a CD with tracks from the fictional Stillwater band. I didn't really think the band's tunes warranted that much attention, but there are six original songs. Disc One has the bootleg cut with director's commentary, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, a music video and the original Rolling Stone articles that inspired the film. Disc Two has the original version of the film, deleted scenes, cast and crew bios, and much more.

Rating: 9

Also:
'Almost Famous' a cool flick, man

"American Outlaws" (2001) (Warner Home Video)

This film flew through theaters like hot lead through butter. It was supposed to be a hip updating of the Jesse James legend, but instead became a misfire that was frequently funny for all the wrong reasons. Jesse (Colin Farrell) and his brother Frank (Gabriel Macht) come back to Liberty, Missouri, after the Civil War, only to find their home town beseiged by a corrupt railroad baron and his men. Jesse, Frank and the Younger brothers show the railroad and the Pinkerton detectives a little frontier justice. They start robbing banks and blowing up stuff. Director Les Mayfield tries to add a comic touch here and there, but his efforts belong on Boot Hill.

DVD extras: Feature-length commentary by the director and other techies and plenty of little featurettes on the making of the film. Actually, one of them showing the construction of the Western town they built in Texas is kind of interesting. Two deleted scenes are available along with storyboards and production stills.

Rating: 3

Also new this week on VHS and DVD:
"Summer Catch" (Warner Home Video)
"The Land Before Time: The Big Freeze" (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Beethoven's 4th" (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Ghosts of Mars" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)

New on VHS only:
"Cora Unashamed" (Warner Home Video)

New on DVD only:
"Soapdish" (Paramount Home Entertainment)
"Frankie & Johnny" (Paramount Home Entertainment)
"'Til There Was You" (Paramount Home Entertainment)
"Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Sheena" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Silent Rage" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"White Water Summer" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Mixed Nuts" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)
"Weekend at Bernie's 2" (Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment)