'Cinderella,' 2 'Parent Trap' movies out on DVD

A warning to readers: The first Christmas DVD of the year came out last week (September wasn't even over yet!) and is included in this collection of reviews. Sorry about that. But we'll begin with Disney's "Cinderella," which might take the edge off.

"Cinderella" (Disney, 1950, G, $29.99, two discs). Some movies never seem to lose their charm, and that's certainly true of Disney's greatest animated classics — "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," "Bambi," "Fantasia," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" . . . and, of course, "Cinderella."

This wonderfully textured retelling of the frequently filmed fairy tale is every bit as enchanting as it was 55 years ago. The basic story is fleshed-out with Disney's knack for creating humorous animal sidekicks, in this case the helpful mice.

Extras: Full frame, making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, deleted songs, storyboards, TV excerpt (with Perry Como), vintage radio-show excerpts, art galleries, trailers, interactive games, "Cinderella Stories" (ESPN sports stories hosted by Joe Namath: 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, North Carolina State's 1983 NCAA victory, Venus and Serena Williams, Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series Home Run, Villanova's 1985 NCAA victory, Lance Armstrong), language options (English, French, Spanish); DVD-ROM applications.

"Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Volume 8: Holiday Celebration With Mickey & Pals" (Disney, 1932-51, not rated, $14.99).

"Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Volume 9: Classic Holiday Stories" (Disney, 1952-83, not rated, $14.99). Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Chip 'n' Dale, Minnie, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Pluto and all the gang are on hand in a bevy of holiday-themed classic short cartoons on these two discs.

The "Holiday Celebration" includes the shorts "Mickey's Good Deed" (1932), "Peculiar Penguins" (1934), "Lend a Paw" (1941), "The Clock Watcher" (1945), "Rescue Dog" (1947), "Toy Tinkers" (1949) and "Corn Chips" (1951).

The "Classic Holiday" disc has the short "Pluto's Christmas Tree" (1952), and the featurettes (roughly 30 minutes each) "The Small One" (1978), about the donkey that will eventually carry Mary into Bethlehem, and "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), the Disney version of Charles Dickens' classic tale.

Extras: Full frame, 10 episodes (seven on "8" and three on "9"), trailers, language options (English, French), chapters.