‘Robots’ brings its mechanics to DVD

REVIEWS

By David Germain

updated 5:57 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2005

“Robots”
A lovably motley posse of walking, talking machines populates this visually striking animated tale whose voice cast includes Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks and Greg Kinnear. From the makers of “Ice Age,” the movie is set on a world of robots, where an idealistic young machine man moves from hicksville to the big city and ends up in a fight against cutthroat corporate forces seeking to destroy outmoded citizens in favor of flashy new hot ’bots. Among DVD extras are deleted scenes, the original short used to pitch the feature film, the new animated robot short “Aunt Fanny’s Tour of Booty” and a sneak peek at “Ice Age 2.” The DVD also has two commentaries, one featuring director Chris Wedge, the other with the technical and animation gang. DVD, $29.98. (20th Century Fox) Original theatrical review

“Lords of Dogtown,” “A Knight’s Tale”

Jaimie Trueblood / COLUMBIA - TRISTAR PICTURES Heath Ledger stars as Skip Engblom in "Lords of Dogtown."

Heath Ledger plays rebel in two past eras, the 14th century and the 1970s. The summer flop “Lords of Dogtown” features some wild skateboarding action. Ledger plays a surf-shop owner who becomes mentor to a band of Southern California skateboarders (Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk and John Robinson) whose daring exploits led to today’s extreme-sports style. The movie comes in the theatrical version or an extended cut adding four minutes, with commentary from director Catherine Hardwicke and cast members and deleted scenes. A new cut of 2001’s “A Knight’s Tale” adds 12 minutes to the already two-hour-plus flick, which stars Ledger as a squire copping a rock ’n’ roll attitude as he takes to the jousting ring. “Lords of Dogtown” DVD, $28.95; “A Knight’s Tale” DVD, $19.94. (Sony) Original theatrical review for “Lords of Dogtown”

“The Man Who Fell to Earth,” “Bad Timing”
Two disturbing, insightful films from cult director Nicholas Roeg arrive. The prize is a terrific new DVD edition of 1976’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” starring David Bowie as an alien who comes to our fair planet to borrow water for his dying home world, only to tumble into a stupor of physical gratification and alienation among humanity. The two-disc set has commentary with Roeg, Bowie and co-star Buck Henry, new interviews with co-stars Candy Clark and Rip Torn, and a 1984 interview with Walter Tevis, whose book was the basis for the film. The set also has a copy of Tevis’ novel. “Bad Timing,” from 1980, stars Art Garfunkel, Theresa Russell and Harvey Keitel in a dark, stark exploration of sexual obsession. The DVD has interviews with Roeg and Russell, plus deleted scenes. “Man Who Fell to Earth” DVD set, $39.95; “Bad Timing” DVD, $29.95. (Criterion)

“Oliver!”
Timed to Roman Polanski’s new big-screen adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” this new DVD-CD combo features the 1968 musical “Oliver!” and the film’s soundtrack. Winner of the best-picture prize at the Academy Awards, along with the directing Oscar for Carol Reed, “Oliver!” features Ron Moody as the sinister father figure Fagin, Oliver Reed as the villainous Bill Sykes, Mark Lester as plucky urchin Oliver and Jack Wild as boy pickpocket the Artful Dodger. The DVD is a straight reissue of an earlier version, the movie accompanied by only a making-of featurette, but the soundtrack is a nice addition, the tunes including “Food, Glorious, Food” and “Consider Yourself.” DVD-CD set, $19.94. (Sony)

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