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Home Theater

TREASURE PLANET (2002). Despite being a resounding critical and commercial flop, this by-the-numbers Disney effort picked up a Best Animated Film Oscar nomination, though it was conceded by all that the movie was merely included to fill out the ballot. At any rate, this sci-fi twist on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island seemed mildly enjoyable yet hardly awe-inspiring when it played theaters, but a second look on DVD accentuates the negatives, most notably the inclusion of the character of B.E.N. (voiced by Martin Short), an insufferable robot who sets a new low when it comes to unwelcome comic relief in a Disney film. DVD extras include deleted scenes, commentary by the directors and producers, and an adventure game. <

LITTLE BIG MAN (1970). Director Arthur Penn's excellent adaptation of Thomas Berger's novel is one of the great films of the early 70s, anticipating Forrest Gump in the manner in which it centers on a decent man who meets several notable figures while taking a volatile journey through a thorny chapter in American history. Dustin Hoffman delivers a towering performance as Jack Crabbe, a 121-year-old man who reflects on his experiences as a young boy raised by Indians, a naive youth educated by whites, an adult who returns to live with his Native American brothers, and, finally, a survivalist engaged in a deadly contest of wills with the demented George Custer (Richard Mulligan). The movie has a wicked sense of humor that's mixed with the drama, though it's still tough to watch the scenes in which Americans slaughter innocent non-whites (then again, it's what this nation does best). As Crabbe's adopted father, a saintly sage constantly muttering, "It's a good day to die," Chief Dan George earned an Oscar nomination. Sadly, the DVD is not only bereft of extra features but also fails to include the original 147-minute cut (this more common version runs 139 minutes).

YOUNG GUNS (1988). A decent script that positions Billy the Kid (played by Emilio Estevez) as the slightly mad member of a group of outlaws/enforcers gets seriously undermined by Christopher Cain's clumsy directorial style and too much pretty-boy posturing by several of its Brat Pack stars (besides Estevez, the cast includes Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips and Charlie Sheen). DVD extras include audio commentary by Phillips, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko, and a documentary on Billy the Kid.
-- Matt Brunson