Viewers get to join ‘National Treasure’ hunt

Just as Nicolas Cage solves puzzles and follows cryptic clues to find the treasure of the Knights Templar in the action-adventure “National Treasure,” viewers must discover clues scattered throughout the DVD extras to access even more special features. These clever additions help make up for the lack of audio commentary from director Jon Turteltaub or Cage.

The extras include deleted scenes and a weak alternate ending with commentary from Turteltaub, the animatic of the effects-laden opening scene, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a look at the history of the Knights Templar and a featurette on contemporary treasure hunters. (Disney, $30)

Also new this week:

“The Phantom of the Opera” (Warner, $30): Reviews were decidedly mixed for the $70-million adaptation of the long-running Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on Gaston Leroux’s classic romantic novel. Gerard Butler makes a sexy Phantom; Emmy Rossum trills beautifully as Christine and Patrick Wilson is in fine voice as Raoul. Joel Schumacher directed. The two-disc DVD leaves a lot to be desired. There is no audio commentary and the documentary on the history of the “Phantom” story and three behind-the-scenes featurettes are serviceable at best. The deleted “No One Would Listen” sung by Butler plays like a bad music video.

“Enduring Love” (Paramount, $30): Roger Michell directed this disturbing drama of obsession based on the novel by Ian McEwan. Daniel Craig, Rhys Ifans, Samantha Morton star.

“The Chorus” (Miramax, $30): French drama explores the power of music at a strict school for troubled boys. Nominated for Academy Awards for best foreign language film and song.

“John Wayne Legendary Heroes Collection” (Warner, $50 for the set: $15 each): The Duke was one of the most popular stars of the 20th century, but this five-disc set doesn’t serve him well. The only really good film in the bunch is the 1944 western “Tall in the Saddle.” Two releases from 1955, “The Sea Chase” and “Blood Alley,” are turgid melodramas; the 1973 western “The Train Robbers” is beautifully shot but derivative, and 1974’s “McQ” is a misguided attempt to modernize Wayne by casting him as a tough Seattle cop.

“Hindle Wakes” (Milestone Film & Video, $30): Beautifully executed 1927 British silent film -- recently restored by the British Film Institute -- based on a popular play about a factory girl who travels with her best friend on vacation to the resort at Blackpool and ends up becoming involved with the factory owner’s cad of a son.

“The Partridge Family -- The Complete First Season” (Sony, $30): The baby boom favorite comes to DVD in this peppy four-disc set that includes every episode from the 1970-71 premiere season, a fun featurette on the inception of the sitcom with music and even a documentary on the session singers who supplied all the singing voices save for David Cassidy and Shirley Jones.

“Star Trek Enterprise -- The Complete First Season” (Paramount, $130): As the fifth series in the “Star Trek” universe ends its four-season run at the end of the month, Paramount is releasing the first season in the sci-fi series, which is set 100 years before the original “Star Trek.” The seven-disc set includes commentary with creators Brannon Braga and Rick Berman.

“Pocahontas -- 10th Anniversary Edition” (Disney, $30): Two-disc edition of the hit 1995 animated film. Extras include a special version of the movie with the deleted song, “If I Never Knew You,” sung by Mel Gibson.

“Battle of the Bulge” (Warner, $20): Ken Annakin, one of the directors of the classic 1962 war film “The Longest Day,” helmed this rugged 1965 movie about the pivotal 1944 battle in WWII. Robert Shaw, Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan and Dana Andrews lead the cast of hundreds.

Looking ahead:

May 24: “The Aviator,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie”

May 31: “Boogeyman,” “Swimming Upstream”

June 7: “Be Cool,” “Beyond the Sea,” “The Machinist,” “Imaginary Heroes,” “D.E.B.S.”

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DVD sales

The 10 top-selling DVDs for the week ending April 24. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster and Circuit City.

1. “Meet the Fockers”

2. “House of Flying Daggers”

3. “Ocean’s Twelve”

4. “Sideways”

5. “The Incredibles”

6. “Hotel Rwanda”

7. “Elektra”

8. “Spanglish”

9. “Finding Neverland”

10. “ Birth”

Source: DVDExclusive.com

Los Angeles Times