Their relationship may have more ups and downs than the Coney Island Cyclone, but that won't stop Steve (Russell Crowe) and Monica (Salma Hayek) from giving it their best in Warner Bros.' DVD release of this touching contemporary romance. The feature is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and accompanied by audio rendered in closed-captioned English Dolby Digital Stereo or French Dolby Digital Stereo with optional English, Spanish, or French subtitles. Abundant bonus materials include six additional scenes/outtakes, audio commentary by director Robert Greenwald, cast/director/writer film highlights, and a theatrical trailer.

The past is history in the time-bending action remake The Time Machine. Dreamworks has done a very nice job at making sure this 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is as close to reference quality as they come. With an array of well-saturated black levels and sharp, crisp, colors, this is a very solid transfer that should please fans. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in French and English, DTS Surround in English, and Dolby 2.0 Surround in English and Spanish. Both the DTS and Dolby 5.1 mix are very bombastic and striking with directional effects utilized during almost every scene. All aspects of the dialogue, effects, and music are free of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English and Spanish subtitles. There seems to be a century's worth of extra features on this disc, starting with a commentary track by director Simon Wells (who is also writer H.G. Wells great-grandson). This is a very light track that features sports many stories about the film's troubled production and history. Three making-of vignettes take the viewer behind-the-scenes for a look at how some of the special effects were created ("Creating the Morlocks," "Building the Time Machine," and "Visual Effects by Digital Domain"). An HBO "First Look" is also included which features clips from the film and interviews with the cast and crew. A single deleted scene allows the viewer to catch a very brief glimpse at what was left on the cutting room floor. Finally, there is a short sequence on the fighting in the film, a section of archives which includes nearly 100 images of the conceptual art, some paltry production notes, filmographies, and trailers for the film.

If any movie was made for DVD, XXX, a video game disguised as a film, is the one. And what a DVD! Though it could easily have been a two-disc set, Columbia Pictures opted for a single platter, but loaded it up. To begin with is an exceptional 40-minute documentary called "A Filmmaker's Diary," covering everything from pre- to post-production. Beyond this are three more featurettes on the vehicles, Vin Diesel, and the world of XXX. The final featurette is a pathetic promotional piece for Pontiac's GTO. This is nothing more than a commercial for their upcoming car and has little to do with the movie. Along with that is a brief section on some visual effects for the avalanche scene. The shots are silent so the optional commentary by Joel Hynek of Digital Domain is almost necessary. In addition are ten deleted scenes with optional director's commentary, a music video from Gavin Rossdale for "Adrenaline," some filmographies, and the theatrical trailer for this film, plus trailers for Anger Management and Darkness Falls. If that wasn't enough, director Rob Cohen provides a scene-specific commentary that is really interesting and never dull. While the supplements are outstanding, the image and sound equal them in every way. Possibly even better than the image is the sound. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track (a DTS would have equally rocked, but isn't offered) is loud, loud, and loud. Dialogue is surprising not obscured, but this track is alive throughout the film. Surrounds are aggressive and used at just the right moments for wonderful effect. Finally, the image is framed at 2.35:1 and, of course, anamorphic. A pan and scan version is available separately, but with this type of film, any cut in picture size would ruin the effect. It's reference quality all the way. Detail is solid, and the darker scenes show no sign of breakdown. Would anything less be expected anymore? Certainly not. Colors are equally strong, with a subdued saturation that mimics the theatrical print perfectly. The critics tended to hate this film, but if you want action, and you want an exceptional DVD to go along with it, go no further than XXX.