A Goofy ‘Groove’

Animators Randy Fulmer and Mark Dindal are two wild and crazy guys who are the producer and director, respectively, of the equally wild and crazy Disney animated comedy, “The Emperor’s New Groove.” The duo are also the hosts of the special DVD two-disc set of the film, “The Ultimate Groove” ($40).

David Spade is perfectly cast in “Emperor’s New Groove” as the voice of the spoiled emperor who is turned into a llama by his evil administrator (Eartha Kitt) and her dimwitted henchman (Patrick Warburton). John Goodman is the voice of the sweet llama keeper who ends up befriending Spade.

Besides “The Ultimate Groove,” Disney is offering a one-disc DVD with some extra goodies ($30).

Both versions of “Groove” feature the film in wide-screen, as well as the theatrical trailers, the Rascal Flatts’ music video of “Walk the Llama Llama Dance” and a cute interactive game for the family. Rounding out the disc is the funny commentary from Fulmer and Dindal, who are joined by several animators.

Fulmer and Dindal are practically the entire show on the second disc of “The Ultimate Groove.” They host a tour of the animation department to show how an animated film is made, from development to story to layouts and backgrounds to animation, music and sound. The viewer also has the option of taking an animated tour that demonstrates visually the steps in making a movie. There is also the music video of Sting’s “My Funny Friend and Me” and a neat extra in which the viewer can change the music, dialogue and sound effects of a scene.

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Another big movie from last Christmas, the Sandra Bullock comedy “Miss Congeniality” (Warner, $27), also arrives on DVD this week. The comedy finds Bullock playing a plain-Jane FBI agent who gets a make-over so she can go undercover at a beauty pageant. Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen and William Shatner also star.

Just as with the film itself, the DVD of “Miss Congeniality” is merely so-so. It includes theatrical trailers, a wide-screen edition of the film and two average behind-the-scenes documentaries. Bullock and co-writer and producer Marc Lawrence giggle way too much during their audio commentary. Skip it and opt for the commentary from director Donald Petrie, who discusses every aspect of the film, from how he managed to make Austin, Texas, look like New York City to how they made Bullock look so plain (an ugly wig, extra hair in her eyebrows and flat lighting).

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Just in time for the release of “The Mummy Returns,” Universal has unearthed the two-disc “The Mummy Ultimate Edition” ($30), which has a lot of the same extras featured in the original 1999 DVD of “The Mummy.” This digital edition includes some deleted scenes, a look at the pharaohs and a behind-the-scenes peek at “The Mummy Returns.”

“The Ultimate Mummy” also features three separate audio commentaries: one with director Stephen Sommers and editor Bob Ducsay, a really snoozy one with star Brendan Fraser and a lively, funky one with co-stars Arnold Vosloo, who plays the title role, Kevin J. O’Connor and Oded Fehr.

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Christopher Reeve was tall and scrawny when he flew to England to screen-test for the role of Superman in 1977. But even wearing a makeshift Superman costume that made him perspire profusely and an ill-fitting suit as Clark Kent, Reeve was absolute perfection in his screen tests. Those terrific tests are included in the super new DVD “Superman-The Movie Special Edition” (Warner, $25).

Also included on the disc are recently discovered screen tests with several actresses who auditioned for the role of Lois Lane. Casting director Lynn Stalmaster hosts these tests, which include clips of Anne Archer, Stockard Channing, Susan Blakely, Lesley Ann Warren, Deborah Raffin and Margot Kidder, who won the part.

Also included on the two-sided disc is a nice wide-screen transfer of the film, the trailers and TV spots and breezy commentary from director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz. Donner has added approximately eight minutes of previously unseen footage to this version, including extended scenes involving Superman’s father, played by Marlon Brando.

Marc McClure, who played Jimmy Olson, hosts three enjoyable behind-the-scenes documentaries: “Taking Flight: The Development of Superman,” “Making Superman: Filming the Legend” and “The Magic Behind the Cape,” which examines how all of the special effects were created before the advent of computer graphics.

There are also two deleted scenes and a music-only audio track of John Williams’ score.

Warner is also offering all four “Superman” movies in a DVD set, “The Complete Superman Collection” ($80).

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Criterion has recently released the two-disc DVD of Stanley Kubrick’s superb 1960 epic, “Spartacus,” starring Kirk Douglas as the gladiator who leads a revolt of the slaves against the Romans. Oscar-winner Peter Ustinov, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis also star in this intelligent drama based on the novel by Howard Fast.

The disc includes a lovely transfer of the 1991 restored version of the film, which has been further enhanced for the DVD; the trailers; fascinating commentary recorded in 1992 for the laser disc with producer-actor Douglas, Ustinov, Fast, producer Edward Lewis, restoration expert Robert A. Harris and designer Saul Bass. The first disc also includes screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s scene-by-scene analysis of an early cut and a demonstration of the restoration.

The second disc includes two deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes look at the actors learning to be gladiators, newsreel footage, a 1992 interview with Ustinov, 1960 promotional interviews with Simmons and Ustinov, Saul Bass’ storyboards and Kubrick’s sketches, memos from the Hays Code about the script and a plethora of production art.