Director Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend arrives on DVD in a handsomely packaged yet curiously lacking two-disc special edition courtesy of Warner Home Video . Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the picture is near flawless and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack makes excellent use of the film's inventive sound scheme -- the sound of the encroaching vampires (courtesy of vocalist Mike Patton) shifting from speaker to speaker in a manner that's genuinely unsettling. Four visually striking animated shorts originally released to promote the film offer variations on the themes that drive I Am Legend, are decidedly downbeat yet undeniably beautiful to behold. Unfortunately, viewers seeking to learn anything at all about the production will have to have a computer in able to do so, as the "Intense Bonus Material Databank" is only viewable via a DVD-ROM PC Weblink. A director's commentary track would have been a welcome addition given that the filmmakers were forced to re-shoot the ending of the film, but sadly the only additional features other than the animated shorts are trailers for Lost Boys: The Tribe, The Dark Knight, Speed Racer, and a promotional spot for Blu-Ray. The inclusion of an alternate theatrical version is indeed something to be celebrated as the original cut more faithfully conveys the tone and ideas of Richard Matheson's original novella, yet the decision to include it on an extra disc rather than simply branching the original film is a curious one give that there's only a four-minute difference in running time. One can only suspect that a more feature-intensive special edition is being prepared for future release.

Get ready for a strange voyage back to a strangely familiar fantasy land with Disney DVD's release of this belated sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the image is clean and nearly flawless. Sporting solid blacks, even skin tones, and little evidence of edge-enhancement, this disc will look great no matter how it's viewed. The Dolby Digital 5.1 remix rings through loud and clear, with no hiss to speak of, offering a great showcase for David Shire's wondrous score. Of course, Return to Oz wasn't exactly a box-office phenomenon when originally released in 1985, but that hasn't stopped Disney from including some interesting extra features. It's great to hear Fairuza Balk recollect her first major role in a candid and easygoing interview, and it's obvious that everyone involved in the production truly believed in the film. In addition to addressing issues of stratospheric audience expectations, Balk also talks about her longtime relationship with director Walter Murch and the grueling audition process she endured to land the coveted role of Dorothy. Though original TV spots and a theatrical trailer are also included, the television spots are in particularly poor shape and appear almost completely desaturated in addition to sporting onscreen timecode.