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by Ivana Redwine

Let's take a look at the selection of new DVDs and videos for November, 2003.

"Eight Crazy Nights"

Adam Sandler's animated comedy combines Hanukkah sentimentality, crude humor, and product placement. A bitter 33-year-old man named Davey Stone (voice of Sandler) goes on a drunken rampage and is sentenced to perform community service in a youth basketball program. With a little help from his childhood friend (voice of Jackie Titone) and her son (voice of Austin Stout), Davey eventually gets into the spirit of the holidays.

"Finding Nemo"

This Pixar animated comedy is aimed at kids, but its beauty and storytelling skills make it appealing to most adults. Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould) is a young clown fish who gets captured and ends up in a dentist's aquarium. Nemo's father (voice of Albert Brooks) teams up with a blue tang (voice of Ellen DeGeneres) and sets out to rescue his son. The movie's charm lies largely in its creation of engaging characters and an undersea wonderland.

"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde"

Reese Witherspoon stars in this comedy, which is a sequel to "Legally Blonde" (2001). In the earlier film Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated Harvard Law, and this time around she goes to Washington, D.C., where she becomes an aide to Representative Rudd (Sally Field). In the nation's capital, Elle continues to wear pink and strives to get Congress to pass an animal-rights bill. Luke Wilson and Bob Newhart also appear in the movie.

November 11, 2003

"Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd"

The 1994 comedy "Dumb and Dumber" starred Jim Carrey as Lloyd and Jeff Daniels as Harry. "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" is a prequel to the 1994 film that features Eric Christian Olsen as Lloyd and Derek Richardson as Harry. The newer film shows the two dimwits meeting in high school and getting into a special ed class being run as a scam by the principal. Then Lloyd and Harry help a reporter expose the corruption.

"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"

Arnold Schwarzenegger played the title character in "The Terminator" (1984) and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991), and he reprises the role in "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." In "T3," the future leader (Nick Stahl) of the human resistance movement is threatened when the machines send the ruthless T-X (Kristanna Loken) after him and his lieutenant (Claire Danes). It's up to the Terminator to protect the humans and save humanity.

November 18, 2003

"Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life"

In this action-adventure movie, which is the sequel to "Lara Croft Tomb Raider" (2001), Angelina Jolie again plays archaeologist Lara Croft. In "Cradle of Life," Lara is caught up in a struggle against biological terrorists for control of Pandora's Box, the deadly contents of which could kill millions. Her mission takes her to various locations around the globe, and she is assisted much of the time by her former lover (Gerard Butler).

"The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers" (2003) Platinum Series Special Extended Edition

This is the second installment in a single long story that spans three films based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Many find it worthwhile to review “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) before tackling “The Two Towers.” This time around, Frodo (Elijah Wood), accompanied by Sam, continues his quest to destroy a magic Ring. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) leads the way in an epic battle against evil forces.

"The Santa Clause 2"

Tim Allen starred in the family Christmas comedy "The Santa Clause" (1994), and he reprises his role in this sequel. Scott Calvin (Allen) became Santa Claus several years ago, but he learns he will lose the job if he doesn't marry. He leaves the North Pole to deal with his son's school problems and falls for his son's principal (Elizabeth Mitchell). But while Scott is away, an evil plastic duplicate Santa seizes control at the North Pole.

"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas"

This animated film chronicles the adventures of Sinbad (voice of Brad Pitt) as he sails the high seas. Sinbad, accompanied by first mate Kale (voice of Dennis Haysbert) and Marina (voice of Catherine Zeta-Jones), sets out on a perilous journey to retrieve the magical Book of Peace from the Goddess of Chaos (voice of Michelle Pfeiffer). They must return with the book in 10 days to save the life of Sinbad's friend Proteus (voice of Joseph Fiennes).

"Winged Migration"

This Oscar-nominated documentary features unusual footage of migrating birds. Accompanied by minimal narration, the film shows shots of birds across all seven continents, often in picturesque locations. Airplanes, helicopters, balloons, and ultralight aircraft were employed, and special equipment was sometimes used for gatherings of birds on the ground. Many kinds of birds are shown, including terns, cranes, ducks, and geese.

November 25, 2003

"Bruce Almighty"

Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, and Morgan Freeman star in this comedy. Bruce Nolan (Carrey) is a Buffalo TV reporter who gets very angry when he's passed over for promotion to anchor. He blames God, who appears in the form of a man (Freeman) and turns His powers over to Bruce. Bruce's performance in his new role is laughable, but he becomes a better person as a result of the experience. Aniston plays Bruce's longtime girlfriend.

"The Man on the Train"

Patrice Leconte directed this character-driven French-language drama. Manesquier (Jean Rochefort) is an aging retired teacher who lives quietly in a French provincial town. Then one day a craggy stranger named Milan (singer Johnny Hallyday) gets off a train, having come to rob a bank. Milan ends up staying at Manesquier's house, where the two men develop a peculiar friendship, each striking a strange chord in the other.

"X2: X-Men United"

This is the sequel to the Marvel Comics-derived "X-Men" (2000), and most of the actors from the original are back, including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. The idea is still that there are superhero mutants among us, and this time around a new villain, Gen. William Stryker (Brian Cox), is out to kill them all off. The mutants are forced to work together in an effort to stop Stryker.

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