KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

A bonus disc of behind-the-scenes features and history documentaries about the Crusades shows the connection between director Ridley Scott's glorious period epic and the hostility between Western nations and the Islamic world today. Relevance is a much-appreciated bonus Scott brings to his well-crafted movie, a feature that would do David Lean proud. Set in 1185, well into the decades-long war between European Christians and Muslims, the French blacksmith Balian (Orlando Bloom) joins his long-estranged father, knight Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), in battle for King Baldwin IV (Edward Norton). Hope, glory and tragedy come alive via gigantic desert battles featuring armies of Christians and Muslims and elaborate ancient war machines featuring siege towers and catapults. Bloom's handsome face and sensitive demeanor serve the broad brushstrokes of heroism well. Neeson, Norton and Jeremy Irons surround him with strong supporting characters. Kingdom of Heaven dazzles with its portrayal of distant times and far-off exotic lands. It's a fighting movie, yet it's one that emphasizes peace over war. (Steve Ramos) Grade: B

HOUSE OF D

HOUSE OF D (LIONS GATE)

2004, Rated PG-13

David Duchovny goes the multi-hyphenate route with House of D, an intimate story about a young boy (Anton Yelchin) in 1970s New York City who must deal with losing his emotionally fragile mother (Tea Leoni), the changing relationship with his mentally challenged friend (Robin Williams) and a faceless wise mentor (Erykah Badu) who resides in the Women's House of Detention in Greenwich Village. Beyond writing and directing, Duchovny steps in front of the camera as the adult version of this young boy attempting to repair his own fractured family. All the performers handle the sentimental elements with extreme care, but the real spirit shines through in the special features, where Duchovny and cast share their experiences with the material and each other. Duchovny, in particular during a Q&A session at a festival screening, displays wit and a heartfelt affinity for the narrative. House of D offers an antidote to the notion that independent film must race along the jagged edge. (tt clinkscales) Grade: B

CINDERELLA: SPECIAL PLATINUM EDITION

CINDERELLA: SPECIAL PLATINUM EDITION (WALT DISNEY)

1950, Rated G

Arguably Walt Disney's most popular and seminal animated movie, Cinderella (1950) finally gets the royal treatment with a just-released two-DVD set. And for Disney fanatics, the result is a fairy-tale dream come true. In addition to the digitally restored feature -- complete with a 5.1 digital stereo mix and a cleaner, brighter picture -- the Platinum Edition set has enough extras to keep the kids bibbidi-bobbidi-booing for days. Deleted scenes, making-of and historical featurettes, storyboard comparisons, art galleries and trailers plus games and interactive activities all are packed in. Granted, they don't all work. The section called ESPN "Cinderella Moments in Sports" comes off lame and a little too self-serving for the mouse company. But the majority of the bonus material is quite well presented. Not that it needed to be -- all the disc needs is the perfect underdog story about the power of dreams and true love to be a worthy purchase. And the original holds up well after 55 years and countless imitations. As classic films go, Cinderella doesn't disappoint. (Rodger Pille) Grade: B+

SOUTH PARK: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON

SOUTH PARK: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON (PARAMOUNT)

2002, TV-MA

Kenny's gone and, to fill his roster spot, the boys start hanging out with Bebe. All's well until she grows breasts and drives the boys insane, prompting them to kick Cartman out of the group. Such is season six in South Park, which also finds the lads kidnapping cows, battling Professor Chaos and paying homage to The Simpsons in an episode appropriately titled "The Simpsons Already Did It." We also meet Lemmiwinks the gerbil. It's odd how the controversy over these foul-mouthed little ones has dissipated over the years even though the kids' appetite for profanity hasn't. Nor has their penchant for potty humor as, in one episode, Cartman craps out of his mouth for no apparent reason. Perhaps more folks "get it" now, or they just got tired of fighting and moved on to the likes of Michael Moore. They still might not like it, but South Park remains one of our most important sources of socio-political satire. And it's a hoot! Commentary from creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone provides insight. (P.F. Wilson) Grade: