What’s New

Baby Boy (2001). A story of Peter Pan in the ‘hood, of a lost boy who can’t or won’t grow up, John Singleton’s “Baby Boy” is heartfelt and personal as it attempts to deal with something real, but its increasing desperation to get everything said leads it to stumble over itself. With Tyrese Gibson, Omar Gooding, A.J. Johnson and Ving Rhames. Columbia: no list price; DVD: $27.96; (CC); R, for strong sexuality, language, violence and some drug use.

The Golden Bowl (2001). Merchant Ivory’s film of the Henry James novel, another of their splendid adaptations from literary classics and awesome period evocations, finds two turn-of-the-century friends--one impoverished (Uma Thurman), the other (Kate Beckinsale) the daughter of a tycoon-turned-art collector (Nick Nolte)--both falling in love with a poor but dashing Italian prince (Jeremy Northam). A passionate and vital film that suggests strength of character and concern for the feelings of others are still relevant. The excellent cast includes Anjelica Huston and James Fox as the film’s only happily married couple. Trimark: no list price; DVD: $24.95; (CC); R, for one sex scene.

Legally Blonde (2001). A high concept can be a wonderful thing--up to a point. Starring an impeccably groomed Reese Witherspoon as a Bel-Air airhead wending her way through law school, this is basically “Clueless Goes to Harvard.” Nothing wrong with that notion, but this is no “Clueless.” With Luke Wilson and Selma Blair. MGM: no list price; DVD: $26.98; (CC); PG-13, for language and sexual references.

What’s Hot

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS rentals:

1. Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001). The new item is an improvement over Eddie Murphy’s first “Dr. D” (not the most difficult feat, perhaps, but true nevertheless) and features an engaging performance by Murphy. But precisely because it is an improvement, “Dr. D 2” is also more depressing than its progenitor. With the application of more intelligence and a different sensibility, this could have been a good film instead of one that’s content with not being a complete waste of time. With Kristen Wilson, Kyla Pratt, Raven-Symone and Jeffrey Jones. PG, for language and crude humor.

2. Cats & Dogs (2001). A very resistible movie made from what sounds like an irresistible premise, it proves one more time that it’s easier to make animals talk than give them anything interesting to say. With the human actors (Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins) marking time, it becomes a series of expensive special effects in search of a scenario worth the price tag. PG, for animal action and humor.

3. The Mummy Returns (2001). Writer-director Stephen Sommers, co-stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz plus key creative personnel prove the second time is the charm as they combine for a sequel that is much improved over the 1999 version. An old-fashioned sensibility plus computer-generated special effects have no trouble holding our attention. PG-13, for adventure action and violence.

4. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001). The film features state-of-the-art computer-generated, photorealistic human beings and the story combines science fiction with the ethos of self-sacrifice and ecological consciousness that characterized “Princess Mononoke.” It’s an uneasy fit at best, and one that’s not helped by a clunky, over-complicated script. This latest example of the videogamization of Hollywood insists on taking this stuff seriously, even though the sight of these characters getting romantic is about as involving as watching two expensive mannequins kissing in a Macy’s window. Voices by Ming-Na, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland and James Woods. PG-13, for sci-fi action violence.

5. Along Came a Spider (2001). There are mysteries and surprises in this reasonably diverting albeit frequently improbable thriller, but the biggest mystery of all is hardly a surprise: How does star Morgan Freeman manage to give a master class in acting every time he appears on screen? R, for violence and language.

* Last week’s Top 5 DVD rentals:1. Dr. Dolittle 2.2. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within3. The Mummy Returns

4. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). A cheerful and cheeky confection that survives its excesses and the liberties it takes with the best-selling novel about the comic agonies of being single in a married world. Cleverly written and, with Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and the appealing Renee Zellweger in the lead roles, ideally cast as well. R, for language and some strong sexuality.5. Along Came a Spider * Last week’s Top 5 VHS sellers:1. Dr. Dolittle 22. Cats & Dogs

3. Dumbo(1941). Probably the most lovable of the great Disney feature cartoons: a modest effort, intended to recoup losses from “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia.” It’s a primally emotional movie, a portrait of the artist as a young elephant. Freakish little Dumbo, whose outlandish ears isolate him from society, is cruelly torn from his mother, but his ears eventually carry him to the heights. Here, the virtuosity is almost casual--but the Disney Studio rarely matched or topped the surreal pink elephant nightmare ballet. 4. Barbie in the Nutcracker 5. The Mummy Returns * Last week’s Top 5 DVD sellers:1. Stars Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace (1999). Though this prequel to the original “Star Wars” trilogy is serviceable, it’s noticeably lacking in warmth and humor. Though its visual strengths are considerable, from a dramatic point of view it’s ponderous and plodding. “Episode I” stars Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor as the Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala of Naboo and Jake Lloyd as young Anakin Skywalker. PG, for sci-fi action/violence.2. Final Fantasy: The Spirits 3. Dr. Dolittle 2

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Disney’s first animated feature is the crown jewel of its animated canon. The tale of the angelic princess Snow White--menaced by her evil stepmother and forced to flee for her life in the dark woods, where she discovers the charming house of the Seven Dwarfs--is as heart-rending and amazing as it was in 1937. G.5. Dumbo

What’s Coming

Tuesday: “America’s Sweethearts,” “Bride of the Wind,” “Calle 54,” “crazy/beautiful,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” “Osmosis Jones,” “Under the Sand.”

Nov. 20: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Planet of the Apes.”

Nov. 27: “Made,” “Bread and Roses,” “Pootie Tang.”

Dec. 4: “Pearl Harbor,” “Summer Catch,” “American Outlaws.” “John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars.”

Rental video charts provided by VSDAVidTrac, sales charts by VideoScan Inc.