An ideal dive partner

Once in a while the Criterion Collection, which has built a reputation for classy, well-researched digital editions of vintage American movies and documentaries and international art house fare, offers a contemporary film. This week brings the latest of U.S. director Wes Anderson’s films, “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” ($33).

The two-disc set of the quirky comedy starring Bill Murray as a self-observed Jacques Cousteau-esque documentarian suffering from midlife and career crises is a nearly flawless complement to the movie.

Among the extras are enjoyable commentary with Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach, which was recorded at the New York restaurant where they worked on the script; deleted scenes, interviews with the cast and crew, an interview with Baumbach and Anderson on an Italian chat show called “Mondo Monda,” a making-of documentary from award-winning Albert Maysles, an interview with composer Mark Mothersbaugh, a look at the production and costume design and special effects, and a video journal by actor Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays an intern in the film.

Also arriving today from Criterion is the 1994 documentary “Hoop Dreams” ($30), the acclaimed box office hit that follows two young inner-city basketball hopefuls -- Arthur Agee and William Gates. The disc features several segments of “Siskel & Ebert,” in which the two critics discuss the film, and two audio commentary tracks: one with Agee and Gates, and the second with filmmakers Steven James, Peter Gilbert and Frederick Marx.

Also new this week

“In Good Company” (Universal, $30): “That ‘70s Show” regular Topher Grace came into his own with Paul Weitz’s romantic comedy about a 51-year-old sports magazine ad executive (Dennis Quaid) who discovers that his new boss (Grace) is half his age. Scarlett Johansson plays Quaid’s daughter. Extras include a few deleted scenes and several behind-the-scenes mini-documentaries, including one that profiles several middle-age magazine ad execs.

“Racing Stripes” (Warner Home Video, $28): The DVD of this tale of a zebra who wants to become a race horse offers an enjoyable “How to Make Animals Talk” special effects mini-documentary and a behind-the-scenes featurette on how the animals were trained to “act” on camera.

“Assault on Precinct 13” (Universal, $30): Bullets fly in this remake of John Carpenter’s cult action-thriller from the 1970s. Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Brian Dennehy, Drea de Matteo and Gabriel Byrne star. The passable extras include an “HBO First Look” making of documentary and featurettes on the film’s stunts and weaponry.

“The Merchant of Venice” (Sony, $27): Director Michael Radford’s adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play stars Al Pacino as Shylock. The DVD includes a by-the-books making-of documentary and chatty commentary with Radford and American actress Lynn Collins, who plays Portia.

“The Last Shot” (Touchstone, $30): In this comedy based on a true story of an FBI agent (Alec Baldwin) who pretends to be a movie producer to catch some mobsters, Matthew Broderick plays a struggling writer/director working at Grauman’s Chinese who becomes Baldwin’s patsy. The special features are a kick -- there’s an interview with the real FBI agent and the two screenwriters over lunch at Musso & Frank, several deleted scenes and wry, acerbic commentary with writer/director Jeff Nathanson and Broderick. But the best extra is “Robert Evans Presents ...” Nathanson had filmed several scenes with the famed producer, but ended up cutting them because they didn’t fit.

“Alone in the Dark” (Lions Gate, $28): This action-thriller based on the popular video game came and went from theaters earlier this year in a blink of an eye. Christian Slater stars. Extras include dull commentary with director Uwe Boll.

“Joan of Arcadia -- The First Season” (Paramount, $55): Drama series about a teenager (Amber Tamblyn) who finds herself talking to God and being assigned to help people in need. The six-disc set includes deleted scenes and breezy commentary from Tamblyn, Jason Ritter (a real cutup), Mary Steenburgen and Joe Mantegna, as well as creator Barbara Hall and executive producer James Hayman.

“Entourage -- The Complete First Season” (HBO, $40) This HBO comedy series received a lot of attention when it premiered last summer -- the second season starts in June. Adrian Grenier plays a hot young Hollywood actor who lives with his three childhood companions. Jeremy Piven plays Grenier’s obnoxious agent. Mark Wahlberg is one of the executive producers.

“The Life and Death of Peter Sellers” (HBO, $27): Geoffrey Rush won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his turn as the late movie funnyman in this HBO bio-pic. The digital edition includes some interesting deleted scenes, a documentary on Sellers and thoughtful commentary from Rush and director Stephen Hopkins.

June 14: “Hitch,” “A Dirty Shame, “Rory O’Shea Was Here,” “Brother to Brother”

June 21: “Coach Carter,” “Hostage,” “Cursed,” “The Jacket,” “Callas Forever”

June 28: “The Pacifier,” “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”

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The 10 top-selling DVDs for the week ending May 1. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster and Circuit City.

1. “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”

2. “Blade: Trinity”

3. “Meet the Fockers”

4. “Ocean’s Twelve”

5. “House of Flying Daggers”

6. “The Incredibles”

7. “Sideways”

8. “Hotel Rwanda”

9. “Elektra”

10. “Finding Neverland”

Source: DVDExclusive.com