Box sets of DVDs offer up comedy, drama, adventure

Published: Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008 12:20 a.m. MST
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"I Am Legend: Ultimate Collector's Edition" (Warner, 2007, PG-13, three discs, $49.98). Will Smith's sci-fi hit about the last human left on Earth after a plague wipes out everyone else is eerie and fascinating in its early stages, and Smith is, as always, terrific.

But when the mutants show up the film falls into the formulaic trappings of too many other zombie movies. Not that fans care. And this set has plenty for them to peruse, from deleted scenes to background documentaries to a collectible art book.

Bonus features include a revamped version of the film.

Extras: widescreen, theatrical release (and digital copy), expanded version with alternate ending, deleted scenes, audio commentary (by director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman), featurettes, trailer, four animated comics ; 44-page photo/art book, art cards

"I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series" (Sony, 1965-70, 20 discs, b/w and color, $174.95). This set features all five seasons of the beloved fantasy sitcom about an astronaut (pre-"Dallas" Larry Hagman) who finds a bottle with a most alluring genie (Barbara Eden). Included here are up-to-date interviews with stars Eden, Hagman and Bill Daily.

And look for guest appearances by Groucho Marx, Dabney Coleman, Sammy Davis Jr., Don Rickles and Paul Lynde.

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Extras: full frame, 139 episodes, audio commentaries, featurettes, episode cards, photos; collectible genie bottle packaging

"The Gregory Peck Collection" (Universal, 1952-67, color and b/w, seven discs, $59.98) includes bona-fide classics "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Cape Fear" with all the bonus features from previous releases and four titles making their DVD debuts: "Mirage" (1965, b/w), a puzzling Hitchcock-style thriller about amnesia, with Diane Baker and Walter Matthau; "Arabesque" (1966), a comedy also in the Hitchcock vein, with innocent professor Peck mixed up with espionage and alluring Sophia Loren; "Captain Newman, M.D." (1967), an episodic World War II comedy-drama with psychiatrist Peck in a stateside military hospital, Tony Curtis as a go-to orderly, Angie Dickinson as a compassionate nurse, and Eddie Albert, Bobby Darin and Robert Duvall as patients; and "The World in His Arms" (1952), an offbeat seafaring adventure sea captain Peck wooing countess Ann Blyth and Anthony Quinn as his rival.

Extras: widescreen, featurette (on "Cape Fear"); myriad bonus features from audio commentaries to documentaries on two discs ("To Kill a Mockingbird")

"The Homefront Collection" (Warner, 1942-44, three discs, color and b/w, $39.92). This set is composed of three World War II movies — "This Is the Army," "Thank Your Lucky Stars" and "Hollywood Canteen." All three are star-studded variety shows, each with a meager wraparound story.

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What Ones To Buy? | Dec. 15, 2008 at 7:21 a.m.

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Peter Bolton, A&E

The first four "Horatio Hornblower" TV films starring Ioan Gruffud are included in "The Adventure Collection."

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