This week's DVD releases

By BRUCE DANCIS
McClatchy Newspapers

-"27 Dresses"

Fox Home Entertainment/Spyglass Entertainment, $29.98, rated PG-13

Taking the "always a bridesmaid ..." cliche to new extremes, this comedy stars Katherine Heigl ("Knocked Up," "Grey's Anatomy") as a woman who's been a bridesmaid for 27 friends but keeps missing out on finding romance for herself. The DVD comes with deleted scenes and four short features: "The Wedding Party," "You'll Never Wear It Again," "Jan's World" and "The Running of the Brides."

-"The Golden Compass"

One and two discs, New Line Home Entertainment, $28.98/$34.99, rated PG-13

Merging live-action and computer-generated imagery, writer-director Chris Weitz's adaptation of Philip Pullman's fantasy stars Dakota Blue Richards as the young heroine Lyra Belacqua, possessor of a powerful and mystical Golden Compass that can reveal hidden truths and tell the future as she gets transported to a parallel universe of witches and Ice Bears. Only the two-disc edition contains bonus features, including an audio commentary by Weitz, 11 "making-of" short features and a photo gallery.

-"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Miramax Films, $29.99, rated PG-13

Recipient of four Oscar nominations and winner of Golden Globes for best foreign language film and best director (Julian Schnabel), this is about a man (played by Mathieu Almaric) who suffers a stroke at age 43 that leaves his mind sound but his body completely paralyzed – except that he can blink his left eye. His memories and fantasies – communicated one letter at a time to his speech therapist (Marie-Josee Croze) – are then portrayed onscreen by the director, screenwriter Ronald Harwood and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski. Bonus features include a commentary by Schnabel, two documentaries on the making of the film and an interview with Schnabel by Charlie Rose. Spoken in French with English subtitles.

-"How She Move"

Paramount Home Entertainment, $29.99, rated PG-13

Although her Jamaican immigrant parents want her to use education to get out of their tough inner-city neighborhood, Raya Green (Rutina Wesley) instead joins an all-male team of step dancers and tries to win a local stepping contest that offers a large prize. Featuring songs by Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes, plus the choreography of Hi-Hat, the DVD includes three documentaries: – "The Characters of `How She Move,'" "From Rehearsal to Film" and "Telling Her Story."

-"The Classic Caballeros Collection"

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, $19.95, rated G

"Saludos Amigos" (1942) and "Three Caballeros" (1944) were made by Disney at the request of the U.S. State Department to shore up support for the Allies in South America during World War II. The former includes Walt Disney and his animators visiting Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and the Andes, and coming up with four short cartoon adventures starring Donald Duck, Goofy and new pals like Brazilian parrot Jose Carioca. The "Three Caballeros" are Donald, Jose and Panchito, a Mexican rooster, and they get to dance with real people in a blend of live action and animation. Bonus features include two Donald Duck cartoon shorts, an interview with Disney and a "South of the Border With Disney" documentary.

-"The Red Balloon The White Mane"

Janus Films, both $14.95, not rated

"The Red Balloon," a memorable short children's film (34 minutes) from 1956 by French writer-director Albert Lamorisse, is about a little boy (the director's son, Pascal) and a red balloon that follows him through the streets of Paris. It won the Golden Palm at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Less well known but also highly regarded is Lamorisse's 1952 film "The White Mane," set in the south of France, about a stallion in a herd of wild horses and the young fisherman who tames him. Both films are newly restored and available on DVD for the first time; neither comes with bonus features.

Plus:

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: The Years of Change (not rated)

Angelique: The Complete Movie Collection(not rated)

Bernard and Doris (rated TV-14)

Beverly Hills 90210: The Fourth Season (not rated)

The Big Gay Sketch Show: The Complete Unrated Second Season (not rated)

The British Empire in Color (not rated)

Celebration of Gospel: Spirit in Song (not rated)

Cheers: The Ninth Season (not rated)

Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is – The Complete Second Season (not rated)

Dead Man's Bounty (not rated)

Diamond Dogs (rated R)

Disraeli (not rated)

Fall of the Roman Empire (not rated)

First Knight: Special Edition (rated PG-13)

A Generation Apart (not rated)

Intelligence: Season One (not rated)

King Corn (not rated)

Moondance Alexander (rated G)

Nanking (rated R)

Paddle to the Sea (not rated)

Paranormal State: The Complete Season One (not rated)

Sabrina: The Teenage Witch – The Complete Animated Series (not rated)

Treasure Island Kids 2: The Monster of Treasure Island (not rated)

Trevor Roman: If You Don't Take Care of Your Body, Where Else Are You Going To Live? (not rated)

Surviving Motherhood: Your Guide to Being a Mom (not rated)

The True Story of Charlie Wilson (not rated)

The Waltons: The Complete Seventh Season (not rated)