The Assignment (1997) - Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley. Crap. DVD. R-L0V2S0. 5/10

Monster, Inc (2001) - DVD. 7.5/10

Behind Enemy Lines (2001) - Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman. DVD. 5/10.

10 must-have DVDs for home theaters - CNET.com

Any home-theater enthusiast knows that there are certain discs that make your home theater really look and sound like one. Unfortunately, all too often the movies themselves aren't as captivating as the visual and audio pyrotechnics that they deliver. But who cares? We love them for what they are: awesome test discs that push the limits of our systems.

Here are current favorites, culled from numerous titles. We've listed them by release date along with our preferred test scenes from each disc. We update this list monthly.

Star Wars--Episode 2, Attack of the Clones (Fox)
Monsters, Inc. (Disney)
Panic Room: Superbit Edition (Columbia Tristar)
From Hell--Director's Limited Edition (20th Century Fox)
Jurassic Park III (Universal)
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Warner Home Video)
Pearl Harbor--Vista Series Director's Cut (Buena Vista)
Black Hawk Down (Columbia TriStar)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Warner)
Fifth Element: Superbit Collection (Columbia TriStar)

The Birds (1963) - Hitchcock's. A strange film, which so often touches the level of a masterpiece and yet ends up quite feebly. Most of the film is enchanting, except the climax which makes one feel kind of cheated. Performaces are of mediocre level too.

DVD. Color. 119 min. 6.5/10. imdb

L.A. Confidential (1997) - Wonderful entertainment. Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger. Excellent performances all, esp. by Kim and Spacey. Dir by Curtis Hanson. Plot Outline: A shooting at an all night diner is investigated by three LA policemen in their own unique ways.

DVD. 138 min. 8/10. imdb

Sense and Sensibilities (1995) - A wonderful, beautiful movie. Based on Jane Austin's famous novel, it has screenplay by Emma Thompson who also starts in the main role. She is brilliant and is ably supported by Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant. Kate Winslet is little irritating in some parts, but carries out well in the end. Dir by Ang Lee. The lush green british locales are a treat to eyes. Good entertainment. Tagline: Lose your heart and come to your senses.

Some quotes from the movie:
Mama: If you can't think of anything to say you will please restrict your remarks to the weather.

John Willoughby: Brandon is the sort of man everyone speaks well of, but no one remembers to talk to.

Marianne Dashwood: Always resignation and acceptance. Always prudence and dignity and honour. Elinor, where is your heart?

Colonel Brandon: Give me an occupation or I shall run mad.

DVD. 136 min. 8.5/10. imdb

The Bone Collector (1999) - A time-pass suspense thriller. Some unconvincing things makes it a little less reliable than what a serial killer movie should strive for. Plot Outline: "Denzel Washington plays a quadriplegic homicide detective. He and his female partner track down a serial killer." He does good.

DVD. R-L1V0S0. 118 min. 6.5/10. imdb

The Thomas Crowne Affair (1999) - Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo. Dir by John McTiernan. The movie was a remake of a 1966 movie with the same name. Plot Outline: A very rich and successful playboy amuses himself by stealing artwork, but may have met his match in a seductive detective. It's a slick heist movie. However one thing which sometime irritate during the movie is its pretentiousness. The movie tries to show itself as of a great character and substance which it is not. Yet, thoroughly enjoyable.

DVD. R-L1V2S0. 113 min. 7/10. imdb

The Trouble with Harry (1955) - Hitchcock succeeds with comedy too. A delightful comedy providing some splendid visual (Falls colors of Maine) treat. Shirley MacLaine shines in her debut with wonderful support from Edmund Gwenn.

DVD. 99 min, color. 8/10. imdb

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - 7/10
Such A Long Journey (2001) - Roshan Seth, Naseer, Om Puri. And yet a highly annoying movie. 3/10
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - 6/10

Gross Pointe Blank (1997) - Fun to watch. The movie has an attitude of its own. Dir by George Armitage. John Cusack, Minnie Driver. Plot: Martin Blank is a professional assassin. He is sent on a mission to a small Detroit suburb, Grosse Pointe, and, by coincidence, his ten-year high school reunion party is taking place there at the same time.

Some real funny lines (check more at imdb):
McCullers: You got any ideas how you wanna wax this guy?
Steve: Can't you just say 'kill'? Ya always gotta romanticize it.

Dr. Oatman: Martin, I'm emotionally involved with you.
Marty: How are you emotionally involved with me?
Dr. Oatman: I'm afraid of you.
Marty: You're afraid of me.
Dr. Oatman: And that constitutes an emotional involvement, and it would be unethical for me to work with you under those circumstances.

Marty: You don't know my cat. It's very demanding.
Debi: "It"? You don't know if it's a boy or a girl?
Marty: I respect its privacy.

Debi: So, what have you been doing with your life?
Marty: Professional Killer.
Debi: Oh...you get dental with that?

DVD. R-L1V2S0. 107 min. 6.5/10. imdb

Monsoon Wedding (2001) - 5/10
Lajja (2001) - 6.5/10
The Terrorist (1999) - 2/10