Getting Caught Up in Entertaining ‘Rush Hour’

One of the biggest hits and one of the biggest box-office disappointments of last year have recently made their DVD debuts.

“Rush Hour” (New Line, $25), the blockbuster action-comedy starring comic Chris Tucker and martial arts superstar Jackie Chan, is a terrifically entertaining DVD. Not only is the film presented in wide-screen, but the disc also features several deleted scenes, two music videos, the original theatrical trailer and bios of the cast and crew.

The DVD also includes the isolated film score by composer Lalo Schifrin, along with his commentary. Schifrin says one reason he got the job of scoring the film is that he also composed director Brett Ratner’s favorite movie, the 1973 Bruce Lee classic “Enter the Dragon.” Ratner even has the main theme from “Dragon” on his answering machine.

Ratner also offers his own comments on the making of this, his second film. The former music video director announces proudly at the beginning that he was all of 26 when he made his first film, “Money Talks,” and is now the ripe-old age of 28. His commentary is filled with the self-confidence of a young man who grew up listening to urban music and going to chop-socky films. He describes how he was a nervous wreck flying to Hong Kong to convince his idol Chan to do the movie and how the chemistry between Tucker and Chan was instantaneous. Particularly interesting is his insight on how Chan plans and performs his stunts and how Ratner encouraged Tucker and Chan to improvise.

The jury is still out on whether Ratner is a director to be reckoned with, but he’s fun to listen to.

If you have DVD-ROM capability, you can watch “Rush Hour” and print and read the original script. There’s also an interactive game using film clips, and one can even click on a photo of Chan to see every bone he’s broken.

The sci-fi thriller “Soldier” pretty much came and went in the theaters without a trace last fall. Kurt Russell stars in this big-budget bore as a trained killing machine who discovers his own humanity while living with a family in a peaceful community.

Warner Home Video has put a lot of time and effort into the DVD version ($20). Skip the movie and check out the commentary by director Paul Anderson (“Event Horizon”), co-producer Jeremy Bolt and co-star Paul Isaacs. It’s far more interesting.

Anderson explains that he envisioned this film as a sci-fi version of the 1953 western classic “Shane,” with Russell in the Alan Ladd part. Believe it or not, it took Russell 18 months of working out in the gym to get in shape for the role. Though the film looks like it was primarily shot outside, Anderson admits the majority was shot on sound stages in Burbank because the production took place during the height of El Nino last year. The DVD also features the theatrical trailer and biographical information.

Also New

“One True Thing” (Universal, $27): The well-crafted tear-jerker starring Meryl Streep in her Oscar-nominated performance is presented in wide-screen. The DVD also features the theatrical trailer, production notes, cast bios, film highlights, a behind-the-scenes featurette and Internet site links.

“Bride of Chucky” (Universal, $25): This bloody, romantic comedy in which the killer doll gets a girlfriend is presented in its wide-screen glory. Included are Jennifer Tilly’s personal diary of the shoot, production photographs, cast bios, a history of Chucky and a behind-the-scenes featurette.