Documentaries on DVD Reach an Early, Modest Peak

Documentaries have finally entered the DVD age, but with mixed results.

Goldhil’s Digital Collector’s edition of “Into the Thin Air of Everest: Mountain of Dreams . . . Mountain of Doom” ($30) is the most satisfactory of three recent documentary releases.

The winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award for best video, “Everest” features three documentaries, full-motion menus, a Mt. Everest slide show and interviews with climbers Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Christopher Bonington.

The three documentaries all explore the history of the world’s tallest mountain. “Everest: The Quest” includes the stories of the early climbers, including George Mallory, who died in his attempt in 1924, and Hillary, who made the summit in 1953. “Everest: Tempting Fate” focuses on modern expeditions and chronicles the ill-fated expedition of 1996. The best of the trio is 1953’s “The Conquest of Everest,” the Oscar-nominated documentary about the first expedition to reach the peak.

As for the extras, the interviews with Hillary and Bonington are good, but are far too short. The Mt. Everest slide show offers several nice photos, but identifying the slides would have been more helpful to viewers. Despite some flaws, Everest fans will really enjoy this disc. To order call (800) 250-8760.

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Also new from Goldhil is the award-winning “Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie” ($30). Directed by special effects filmmaker Peter Kuran and narrated by a very serious William Shatner, “The Atomic Bomb Movie” chronicles, through rare footage, the history of the design, production and testing of the atomic and hydrogen bombs by the United States.

The DVD features full-motion menus, a separate music score track, scene access, production notes and a photo slide show that does not include any identification. One track features amazing unedited footage of an atomic bomb test, and another offers a short film of atomic testing in 3-D. One pair of 3-D glasses is provided with the disc. Kuran also provides commentary, but he’s a snooze. To order call (800) 250-8760.

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“Soul in the Hole” (Xenon, $20) is a consistently compelling documentary directed by Danielle Gardner that focuses on one summer season of Kenny’s Kings, a youth basketball team in Brooklyn. Ed “Booger” Smith was the team’s star attraction. Kenny Jones, the team’s coach, was also their sponsor and father figure.

One team member joined the Chicago Bulls. Another excelled at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Smith, though, ran into trouble with the law after completing his first year of college and never returned to school.

The DVD includes the trailer, a music video, biographical notes (which are way too small to read, even on a large-screen TV) and commentary from Gardner, Jones and producer Lilibet Foster. Unfortunately, no one identifies themselves at the beginning of the commentary, so it takes a while to discern who is talking. And producer Foster seems to be miles away from the microphone and is very difficult to hear. Jones’ larger-than-life personality and enthusiasm are the best reasons to listen to this commentary. To order call (800) 829-1913.