Hollywood @ Home

DVD reviews: 'Fast and Furious,' 'Mad Max'

By Paul Chambers
Special to CNN

(CNN) -- Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines. This week's DVD releases are full of fast cars and thrilling action.

Last year's breakaway surprise was "The Fast and the Furious," a fictional look at the world of illegal street racing in Los Angeles, which has just been released on DVD. Also zooming onto DVD: Mel Gibson and his rocket-fast police cruiser in "Mad Max," not to mention "The Glass House," starring the up-and-coming Leelee Sobieski.

Stay with us now as we accelerate into this week's edition of "Hollywood @ Home." All ratings are on a 10-point scale.

"The Fast and the Furious" (2001) (Universal Studios Home Video)

The surprise hit of last summer proves that a movie about fast cars will sell tickets if it includes a good story. Oh, and having a cool actor like Vin Diesel headlining the cast should also be standard equipment. Diesel plays the leader of a street racing car club who also may be hijacking trucks to pay for his expensive habit. Paul Walker is an undercover cop assigned to infiltrate the street racing culture and find out who's behind the hijackings. An excellent film with superb special effects and above-average acting.

DVD extras: Some of the amazing stunts in this film can be seen from eight different camera angles by using a special bonus feature on the DVD. The disc is loaded with other extras, including deleted scenes, music videos and a DVD-ROM function. Don't miss the special effects montage that contrasts the edited first racing scene with some of the raw blue-screen special effects. It's a cool look into making a first-rate action film.

Rating: 7

"Mad Max" (1979) (MGM Home Entertainment)

Surprisingly enough, previous releases of this Mel Gibson breakout film did not even contain Gibson's voice. The distributor decided Australian English was too difficult to understand, so it dubbed the film with American actors. Now, for the first time, you will be able to see and hear "Mad Max" the way the filmmakers intended. This was only Gibson's second film and it's the one that made him an international sensation. He plays a policeman of the future out to avenge the deaths of his wife and son. There's plenty of fast cars and motorcycles with speeds up to 180 kilometers per hour. A great action movie.

DVD extras: Before watching the film, make sure you program the "trivia track" function. It's a great way to read interesting fun facts while enjoying the movie; one states Gibson earned only $5,000 for making this film. Two interesting documentaries are also included on the disc. There's a running audio commentary that unfortunately does not include either Gibson or director George Miller. Sound is available in Australian English or dubbed American English. The choice is clear, my friends.

Rating: 8

"The Glass House" (2001) (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)

There's nothing like a trashy domestic thriller on a cold winter's night, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better example than "The Glass House." The talented Leelee Sobieski actually makes this film about orphans-in-peril quite watchable. She and her on-screen brother (Trevor Morgan) are forced to live with some old friends of the family, the Glasses, after their parents are killed in a traffic accident. Ruby (Sobieski) believes the Glasses may be out to steal her inheritance of roughly $4 million. She also believes her guardians may be involved with their parents' deaths. There are plenty of creepy moments and some genuine suspense until you get to the absolutely preposterous ending. You'll need a generous sense of humor to handle the wrap of this film.

DVD extras: A running commentary from the director and writer are offered along with widescreen and full-screen presentations. The DVD cover also promises exclusive filmmaker interviews, but I couldn't make the disc take me to them. Audio is English 5.1 Dolby Digital or two-channel Dolby Surround. French audio is also available.

Rating: 5

Also new this week on DVD and VHS:
"Cinderella" (1965 TV version) (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
"Greenfingers" (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
"What's the Worst That Could Happen?" (MGM Home Entertainment)

Also new this week on DVD only:
"The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"California Suite" (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
"The Long Grey Line" (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)