DVDs way beyond 'Star Wars'
Films, TV shows and specials for every taste
By Todd Leopold
CNN
and Adam Dunn
Special to CNN
(CNN) -- That story from a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away isn't going to go anywhere, anywhere anytime soon.
"The Star Wars Trilogy," a DVD collection that came out in September, remains ranked in Amazon.com's top five as this is written. Yet another generation is being introduced to the original "Star Wars" crew -- Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca -- in the original three movies: "Star Wars" (1977), "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983). And we're only a few months away from the final film in the series, "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith."
Oh, there have been some changes in the original trilogy. Creator George Lucas digitally cleaned up (or enhanced) the special effects, dropped Hayden Christensen into the conclusion of "Jedi" and raised fans' hackles by showing that Han Solo didn't shoot first. Indeed, "Star Wars" discussion boards have been humming for months about the whole concept of "Whose 'Star Wars' is it, anyway?"
But for film and DVD lovers, there is a whole world -- or more -- beyond "Star Wars" this holiday season. (And that's not even getting into the other trilogy just released on DVD -- the 12-disc [!] "Lord of the Rings" set.)
Cinephiles can take heart in the stunning Criterion release of Ingmar Bergman's career capstone, "Fanny & Alexander," containing both the theatrical feature and the television miniseries that aired in Sweden. Music lovers can cheer "The History of Rock 'n' Roll," a five-disc box of performances and interviews featuring everyone from Louis Jordan and Ruth Brown to U2 and Nirvana.
Theatergoers may enjoy two great documentaries on Broadway, one on the musical, the other on the Great White Way's golden age. And TV fans now have the final season of "Frasier," the first season of "Taxi" -- and the terrific fourth and fifth seasons of "The Simpsons" (not to mention many, many more).
Click here for just a few of this year's DVD highlights.
