The 50 Essential DVDs [26-50]

DEPTH CHARGE [6] SOUND + VISION [3]

47 Jaws

(1975, Universal, PG, $26.98) — Even on low-end players, its wide-screen glory nearly makes up for years of lame TV pan-and-scan editions. And while the director — as usual — doesn't provide commentary, he does pop up in a doc that manages to shed some new light on a movie whose production woes are well-worn fables. CHOICE CUT Pieces of a shark attack scene cut by Spielberg because he thought it was too gory, raising the question, Was he exercising restraint, or being toothless?

DEPTH CHARGE [2] SOUND + VISION [6]

48 Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

(1985, Warner, PG, $19.98) — Granted, for Pee-wee proponents, the chance to experience the infamous "Tequila" dance sequence in surround sound is impetus enough to pick up the platter. But Warner opted for a grander Adventure, including commentaries by director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman. CHOICE CUT A lengthy excerpt from the cutting-room floor, which expands upon Pee-wee's trip through the Warner Bros. lot.

DEPTH CHARGE [2] SOUND + VISION [5]

49 Ghost in the Shell

(1996, Manga, unrated, $29.95) — The loss of personal identity in the information age is the Big Issue explored in this acclaimed feature-length anime which takes place in a cybernetic world not unlike that of The Matrix. But even with its involving plotlines, Ghost's real accomplishment lies not in the story, but in the storytelling. From the dizzying experience of passing through a stream of living data to the delirious fury of a mech battle, director Mamoru Oshii's remarkable fusing of cel animation and computer-generated imagery is particularly well suited (and ironically appropriate) for this digital format. CHOICE CUT Forget the bad dubbing — turn on the subtitles and enjoy the movie the way it's meant to be heard.

DEPTH CHARGE [4] SOUND + VISION [8]

50 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

(1966, MGM, R, $24.98) — The good: From the opening credit sequence to Clint Eastwood's blistered, desert-scarred mug to the final death-circle showdown, this spaghetti Western shines in all its operatic wide-screen glory. And fans of Ennio Morricone's classic, oft-parodied score will be in heaven when those first eerie notes blare. The bad: Where the hell are the extras? MGM didn't include anything but some tepid production notes, the now-standard theatrical trailer, and seven cut scenes. The ugly: Aldo Giuffre. CHOICE CUT Well, it's pretty much the only choice: 14 minutes of supplemental Italian-language footage — largely filling out the Civil War back story — never before shown in the U.S.

DEPTH CHARGE [1] SOUND + VISION [7]

CREDITS

EDITED BY
Marc Bernardin
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Alice King, Fan Wong

WRITTEN AND REPORTED BY
Doug Brod, Scott Brown, Ty Burr, Bob Cannon, Steve Daly, Daniel Fierman, Wook Kim, Jolie Madan, Jason Matloff, Troy Patterson, Erin Podolsky, Tim Purtell, Brian M. Raftery, Joshua Rich, Dalton Ross