2 new releases have Oscar links

An Oscar-contender and an Oscar-winner lead off this collection of films new to DVD this week.

"Ray" (Universal, 2004, PG-13, $44.99, two discs). Jamie Foxx is the frontrunner among the best-actor Oscar candidates this year, and it's easy to see why. Foxx inhabits the late Ray Charles, from his movements to his voice, but somehow never slips into caricature.

In some ways the movie is a fairly routine Hollywood biography, but Foxx dominates the proceedings and is utterly convincing. The supporting cast is also superb, especially Sharon Warren as young Ray's mother, Regina King as a back-up singer with whom Ray has a fling, and Kerry Washington as his long-suffering wife.

And best of all are the musical sequences, of which there are more in the extended version of the film on this disc.

Extras: Separate widescreen and full-frame editions, two versions (152 minutes theatrical; 178 minutes extended), audio commentary (by director Taylor Hackford), deleted scenes, expanded musical performances, making-of featurettes, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.

"Chariots of Fire" (Warner, 1981, PG, $26.99, two discs). Despite its having been spoofed endlessly (the familiar Vangelis music, the runners in training along the seashore), this best-picture Oscar-winner holds up as a wonderful human story, a true story of two very English runners whose religions have an impact on their opportunities to participate in the 1924 Olympics.

Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) is Jewish and feels that winning would help him prove something to his detractors, while Christian missionary Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) feels a win would be a victory for God. Cross and Charleson are standouts in a uniformly excellent cast. But the story is never narrow, and its universality is guaranteed to touch you.

While this film has been on DVD previously, this is the first time in widescreen, and it helps tremendously.

Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary (by director Hugh Hudson), deleted/alternate scenes, making-of featurettes, screen tests, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.

"The Karate Kid Collection" (Columbia, 1984/1986/1989/1994, PG, $36.95, three discs). Fans who remember these films will be pleased with this collection, though it definitely confirms that the original film is by far the best.