• "King Kong: Peter Jackson's Production Diaries" (Universal, 2005, not rated, $39.98, two discs). This is unique, to say the least, two discs in a huge box that doesn't misrepresent what it is — 54 video-diary entries that put the viewer on the set of the new "King Kong" remake. (These videos initially appeared on a fan Web site.) www.KongIsKing.net
This result is a cross between those making-of featurettes that are on most DVDs today, and a reality series akin to "Project Greenlight" . . . except with a much bigger budget. The latter is especially true when writer/director Peter Jackson, on the last few days of shooting, is shown to be so exhausted that he brings in a couple of writer/director friends to take over the shoot for a few hours each whenever Jackson falls asleep.
Fascinating stuff for movie buffs and for the legion of post-"Lord of the Rings" Jackson fans.
Extras: Widescreen, 54 production diaries, introductions by Jackson, featurettes, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters; 52-page illustrated book on the film, four art prints.
• "The Five Pennies" (Paramount, 1959, not rated, $14.99). Danny Kaye plays musician Red Nichols (from Ogden, Utah) in this sentimental, occasionally funny fictionalized biography. A dramatic change of pace for Kaye at the time, and he's very good. Tuesday Weld plays his young daughter; Louis Armstrong steals the show whenever he's onscreen. There aren't many Kaye films on DVD, so let's hope this begins a trend.
Extras: Widescreen, optional English subtitles, chapters.
• "Godzilla: Final Wars" (Sony, 2004, PG-13, $24.96). This big-budget "Godzilla" film is said to be the last . . . yeah, right. This 50th anniversary effort includes a bevy of "Godzilla" co-monsters — everyone from Rodan to Mothra to Ghidrah shows up to destroy famous cities around the globe. Directed in frenzied 21st century style, with a bit of "Matrix" thrown in, but still campy, silly fun for "Godzilla" buffs.
Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurette, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, French), chapters.
• "Gallipoli: Special Collector's Edition" (Paramount, 1981, PG, $14.99). Before director Peter Weir left Australia to make such American films as "Witness" and "Fearless," and before Mel Gibson became an international superstar, they combined efforts for this thoughtful World War I drama. The story follows two young, naive Australian soldiers (the other played by Mark Lee) who find themselves fighting the Turks (allied with Germany). Excellent in all respects.
Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurettes, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
• "Airplane! 'Don't Call Me Shirley!' Edition" (Paramount, 1980, PG, $19.99). The hysterically funny "Airplane!" gets the reissue treatment with this special edition. Surely, it's still hilarious — and don't call me Shirley!
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, trivia, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
• "Long Way Round" (Goldhil, 2004, not rated, $19.98, two discs). This reality TV series follows British actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they travel 20,000 miles over 115 days on motorcycles. Some fun stuff, helped by a nice sense of humor as they go through Mongolia, Siberia, New York City, etc. Shown last year on the Bravo cable channel.
Extras: Widescreen, seven episodes, deleted scenes, post-trip interviews, photo gallery, chapters.
• "Saint Ralph" (Sony, 2005, PG-13, $24.96). Disappointing tale a 14-year-old boy who pretends to be living with his grandmother while his mother's in a coma. He decides to run the Boston Marathon, thinking that if he wins, one miracle may lead to another and bring his mother back to him. Some nice moments, but too often the film settles for being just another sex-obsessed boys-in-Catholic-school coming-of-age yarn.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, making-of featurette, optional English subtitles, chapters.
• "Bad News Bears" (Paramount, 2005, PG-13, $29.95). Billy Bob Thornton takes over Walter Matthau's role in this remake from last summer, and it's darker and less funny . . . not that it was begging to be remade.
Extras: Separate widescreen and full-frame editions, audio commentary, deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, video baseball cards, trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
• "Gilmore Girls: The Complete Fifth Season" (Warner, 2004-05, not rated, $59.98, six discs). This funny series slipped a little during this season but regained its footing toward the end. (The current sixth season is, arguably, one of the series' best.) Lorelei (Lauren Graham) finds romance with Luke, and Rory (Alexis Bledel) has a tough year at Yale, eventually collapsing under the pressure of a mean old newspaper publisher. (That could happen.)
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, audio commentary, featurettes on 100th episode, clips, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
• "Dukes of Hazzard: The Complete Fifth Season" (Warner, 1982-83, not rated, $39.98, eight discs). This is the season when Luke and Bo (Tom Wopat and John Schneider) left Hazzard to become NASCAR drivers and were replaced for the season by Coy (Byron Cherry) and Vance (Christopher Mayer). Catherine Bach as Daisy, Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse and Sorrell Brooke as Boss Hogg are still around, though.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com