Happy 2005! Looking back at 2004 I'm amazed at just how many great DVDs were released (See out Top DVDs of 2004 Lists). Also I was shocked at just how many DVDs were released between Christmas and New Years. Typically this week is an absolute dead zone. But this year studios put out some pretty plum titles on a week when people are typically shopped out. The downside to this however, is that January is now a much weaker month for DVD. I sat down over the weekend to pick out the 4 titles we're going to feature on AM Northwest. Usually it's a long list of titles which I struggle to narrow down to 4. This month it was the opposite, I found it much harder to fill 4 spots than ever. What DVDs did I pick? You'll have to tune in on January 18th in Portland (KATU-TV), or on our site shortly thereafter.

Garden State:

I have to admit that I often despise watching deleted scenes on DVDs. More often than not there are very good reasons why scenes were deleted from films and it can be an agonizing experience slogging through the garbage to find the gems. One recent DVD which gets big kudos from me is Garden State. This collection of deleted scenes is really a film school in a box for aspiring editors, it shows you the kinds of great scenes which MUST be cut from a film to make it really flow. One of the cut scenes is a phenomenal scene between Zach Braff and Ian Holm. It's first class acting, great writing and a scene that has huge impact to the story. But, when you watch this deleted scene you'll see exactly why film editor Myron Kerstein cut it out - it dramatically changes the film. I really enjoyed Garden State and recommend it. If you do pick up the DVD, absolutely make sure to check out the deleted scenes - they're well worth you time.

Catwoman:

OK, here's the conundrum: do you plunk down the change and commit over an hour and a half of your life to watch Halle Berry strut around in a skimpy leather cat suit in Catwoman or resist the urge and spend that hard earned time and money on something much more worthy? Now going in you KNOW that this film isn't a winner (it got a chilling 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes... which is bad... really bad), and it also co-stars Sharon Stone who has had more flops than anything else lately. For me, the answer was an easy one. I decided NOT to spend my time watching a bad movie for boobage, there are plenty of good movies worth watching for skin, and if I wanted schlock, Noel Gross, my columnist who covers that genre already has a long list of DVDs he's trying to get me to watch. So resist the urge, it's 100 minutes of your life you'll never be able to get back.

The Village:

What's more frustrating to me than a bad movie, is a movie that could have been good, should have been good, had no reason not to be good, but ends up being bad. The Village was that kind of movie for me. I admit I'm a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan and both The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable hold spots on my 'favorite discs shelf' (which also includes Fight Club, The Matrix, Existenz and Lawrence of Arabia among others). Shyamalan may not be a cinematic master, but he does know how to use classic cinematic techniques to craft his films. In The Village Shyamalan uses these great wide master shots that absolutely no one uses anymore, and the framing of some of his shots are amazing. Unfortunately he's now got a bad case of whatever Spike Lee has and desperately need to pair up with a producer who doesn't think EVERYTHING he does is PURE GENIUS - the real trap when someone tries to do it all. One bright spot in the film is Bryce Dallas Howard, she's fantastic... definitely one to watch.

Battlestar Galactica - The Mini Series:

When it comes to expectations, sometimes low expectations can be a good thing. When it aired almost a year a go, the buzz was decidedly mixed over Battlestar Galactica - The Miniseries. Longtime fans of the show were less than thrilled over the update, while others seemed to dig it. I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. This is one of those series which really benefits from being on DVD - away from the hype and hoopla that can surround something on TV. By watching this series all at once without commercial interruption or 'to be continued', I think it stands much stronger, with the whole being greater than some of its parts. Another series which holds up very well on DVD is The 4400, both of which I'll be tuning into when they come back to TV.

Gilmore Girls:

Finally, I leave you with a little confession. During the break between Xmas and New Years I watched more than my fair share of The Gilmore Girls. This is a series that I probably would never have tuned in on TV but after hearing constant raves from my cousin and his wife, and seeing very positive reviews from my writers I decided to give it a try. Now... I'm hooked! Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel who are Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are simply fantastic, and the writing for the show is simply top notch. If you're looking to 'discover' some new TV on DVD... I heartily recommend The Gilmore Girls.

That's about all for this installment of DVD Talk's Bits and Extras. If you've got a bit or extra you'd like to see us cover or general feedback let us know.

- Geoffrey Kleinman