Scarface

Anniversary Edition

Universal

Al Pacino stars as the titular character in Brian De Palma's
gangster classic. The film, originally panned by critics when it
opened in 1983, has found a huge cult following, specifically in
the gangsta-rap community. This new release comes with a new
digital transfer and audio track, making every expletive and
explosion come alive.

The most entertaining of the second disc special features
focuses on the difficulty in cutting the violence and language for
the television cut of the film. Tony Montana's bloody rise to the
top of the Miami underworld shines on DVD and every rapper who is
missing a copy can now have one to flaunt next time "Cribs" comes
to his house.

- Adam Rottenberg

Movie: 4 stars.

Picture/Sound: 4 stars.

Features: 3.5 stars.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Miramax

In his directorial debut, George Clooney wears his influences on
his sleeve, for the better and worse of the movie, but for the
definite better of the DVD. Together with cinematographer Newton
Thomas Sigel, Clooney offers the most technically interesting of
audio commentaries.

While some filmmakers like Woody Allen abhor the idea of
revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, Clooney and Sigel turn a
sometimes all-too-stylish, but suitably entertaining, biopic of
"Gong Show" host/secret CIA operative Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell,
in a "I deserve to be a star" performance) into the perfect study
tool for would-be filmmakers. Those ancient days when the magic of
Hollywood was just that to viewers, magic, are over as the
"Confessions" DVD basically offers a play-by-play guide on how to
remake the film (assuming you have the talents of Drew Barrymore
and Julia Roberts on speed-dial).

- Todd Weiser

Movie: 3.5 stars.

Picture/Video: 4 stars.

Features: 3.5 stars.