Scorsese’s highflying hit

“The Aviator,” Martin Scorsese’s epic biography of billionaire Howard Hughes, is the influential director’s first film to gross more than $100 million at the domestic box office. And it won more Oscars -- five -- than any of his previous films, including “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “GoodFellas.” It also won the Golden Globe for best drama.

The film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio in his Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated performance as the playboy Hollywood filmmaker and aviation pioneer who battled obsessive-compulsive disorder, makes its DVD debut (Warner Home Video, $30) in a two-disc set that covers every aspect of the production. The first disc includes intense commentary with Scorsese, Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker and producer Michael Mann.

The second disc includes a deleted scene between DiCaprio’s Hughes and Kate Beckinsale’s Ava Gardner, a passable “making of” documentary, a fascinating look at Hughes’ role in aviation history, a History Channel documentary on Hughes, an examination of OCD and short but informative documentaries on the visual effects, hair and makeup, costumes, production design and scoring of the film.

Also new this week

“Are We There Yet?” (Sony, $29): Ice Cube goes the family route in this box office hit originally written for Adam Sandler. The DVD’s “making of” documentary is substandard, but the tour of the sports collectibles store Ice Cube’s character owns in the film is fun because of the ton of memorabilia that was acquired to dress the set. There are also storyboard comparisons, a blooper reel and deleted scenes. Director Brian Levant offers energetic commentary.

“Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” (Disney, $30): This sweet little animated Winnie the Pooh film introduces an adorable new character, Lumpy the Heffalump -- a purple elephant who speaks with a Cockney accent. The digital edition is strictly geared for the small fry, with a song selection, a “making of” documentary -- “Welcome to the Family, Lumpy” -- and a game, “Hide ‘n Seek With Roo and Lumpy.”

“Back in the Day” (First Look, $25) Rapper Ja Rule, Ving Rhames, Pam Grier and Joe Morton are wasted in this predictable, violent thriller. The disc features an amateurishly produced “making of” featurette and cast interviews.

“In Old Arizona” (Fox, $15): The recently restored 1929 western about the Cisco Kid creaks with antiquity but is worth watching because Warner Baxter won the second Oscar for best actor for his performance. Raoul Walsh and Irving Cummings directed this early talkie.

“Forty Guns” (Fox, $15): Sam Fuller (“The Big Red One,” “Fixed Bayonets”) wrote and directed this wickedly entertaining widescreen 1957 western romance starring Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Gene Barry and Dean Jagger.

“Drums Along the Mohawk” (Fox, $15): “Stagecoach” wasn’t the only classic that director John Ford made in 1939. He also helmed this enthralling Technicolor action romance set during the Revolutionary War. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert play newlyweds who settle in the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York only to become embroiled in the war with the British after the redcoats burn their farmhouse. Edna May Oliver received an Oscar nomination for playing a colorful widow who befriends the couple. The disc’s extra is a look at the film’s restoration.

“The Frogmen” (Fox, $15): The sturdy World War II action adventure from 1951 features a fine cast, including Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews and Jeffrey Hunter, and excitingly staged underwater sequences. The film was nominated for an Oscar for cinematography and best writing, motion picture story.

“The Detective” (Fox, $15): This 1968 cop thriller hasn’t aged well despite good performances from Frank Sinatra and Lee Remick. Though the Gordon Douglas-directed film penned by Abby Mann was one of the first major films to tackle gay subject matter -- a wealthy New Yorker’s gay son is murdered -- homosexuals are portrayed in the worst possible stereotypes. A young Jacqueline Bisset also stars.

“NewsRadio -- The Complete First and Second Seasons” (Sony, $40): This off-kilter NBC comedy set at a wacky news radio station developed a core following during its 1995-98 run. The first-rate ensemble included Dave Foley, the late Phil Hartman, “ER’s” Maura Tierney, Joe Rogan of “Fear Factor,” Andy Dick of “Less Than Perfect,” Khandi Alexander of “CSI: Miami” and Vicki Lewis.

The three-disc set has more commentary tracks than most TV-series DVD sets -- there’s commentary on 20 of the 29 episodes with the cast, creator Paul Simms and other crew members. And here’s a trivia gem: Ray Romano was hired to play the handyman but was fired before the pilot was taped because he wasn’t right for the part.

“Fat Actress” (Showtime, $35): The first season of the comedy series starring Kirstie Alley as a fictional version of herself as she deals with weight gain while trying to find love and happiness in Tinseltown. The two-disc DVD set is being released the same week the show’s debut season concludes on Showtime. The discs include a “making of” featurette, a look at the red carpet premiere for the show and audacious audio commentary with Alley, creator Brenda Hampton (“Seventh Heaven”) and others.

“Volcanoes of the Deep” (Image, $20): James Cameron was the executive producer of this fascinating ocean documentary, originally produced for Imax, which travels 12,000 feet down to explore vibrant life-forms and a colorful, dramatic volcanic formation. Ed Harris narrates. Special features include a behind-the-scenes documentary, film facts and a trivia quiz.

Upcoming

May 31: “Boogeyman,” “Swimming Upstream,” “Fascination.”

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

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

June 21: “Coach Carter,” “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous,” “Hostage,” “Cursed,” “The Jacket,” “Callas Forever,” “Bright Leaves,” “Bigger Than the Sky.”

June 28: “The Pacifier,” “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Man of the House.”

July 5: “Hide and Seek,” “Bride and Prejudice,” “In My Country.”

July 12: “A Very Long Engagement.”

July 19: “Constantine,” “Ice Princess,” “Jiminy Glick in Lalawood.”

June 26: “The Upside of Anger,” “King’s Ransom,” “Hotel.”

July 12: “Million Dollar Baby.”

July 26: “Steamboy.”

Aug. 2: “Alexander,” “The Wedding Date.”

Aug. 9: “Because of Winn-Dixie.”

Aug. 16: “Sin City.”

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The 10 top-selling DVDs for the week ending May 15. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster and Circuit City.

1. “Assault on Precinct 13”

2. “National Treasure”

3. “The Life Aquatic”

4. “In Good Company”

5. “Racing Stripes”

6. “Alone in the Dark”

7. “Meet the Fockers”

8. “Blade: Trinity”

9. “The Phantom of the Opera”

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

Source: DVDExclusive.com

Los Angeles Times