Extras enhance value of 'Fahrenheit' DVD

By Terry Lawson
Knight Ridder News Service

Director Michael Moore, right, chats with Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., on Capitol Hill in "Fahrenheit 9/11," released on DVD. Lions Gate Entertainment

It's possible some Republicans might now rent it just to see what got everyone so riled up. Or they might use it in the way some people suffering from low blood pressure use Fox News: to get their stress and anger up.

Most people will pick up "Fahrenheit 9/11" for the multitude of extras, which include, of course, a short film about the phenomenal effect the film has had, along with material that didn't make it in the movie. That includes scenes of old men patrolling the Florida coast for Homeland Security on your dime, interviews with Iraqis on the eve of the invasion, Condoleezza Rice's complete 9/11 Commission testimony, and all of Bush's lamentable Rose Garden press briefing after his own (unseen) appearance before that commission with Dick Cheney in tow. There's also more of the interview with Abdul Henderson (the soldier who refused to return to Iraq).

More on war, politics

Meanwhile, there are a number of DVDs being released to counter Moore's conclusions about the war and the Bush administration. "Buried in the Sand: The Deception of America" has conservative talk-show commentator Mark Taylor arguing that the invasion and occupation were necessary and using some remarkably graphic footage to make the case.

The documentary "Horns and Halos" (Go-Kart) was released theatrically in 2002 but is more relevant than ever. It tells the story of James Hatfield, who wrote the George W. biography "Fortunate Son" that was recalled after its publisher got cold feet over the author's past and Hatfield's famous contention that Bush had taken cocaine.

Also getting a timely rerelease-upgrade is "The War Room" (Universal), the Oscar-nominated 1993 doc by the great D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus that took us inside the 1992 Clinton campaign. Employing the pioneering Pennebaker's usual fly-on-the-wall method, it draws no conclusions but simply allows us to watch James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Paul Begala, Mandy Grunwald and other members of the Clinton team go about the often-messy business of electing a president.

And finally, 'Aladdin'

An extremely welcome, extremely well done upgrade is accomplished with "Aladdin," the fourth Disney classic to get the two-disc Platinum Edition (Disney). Unavailable on video for a decade, Disney's take on the legend of a boy, a lamp and a genie (brilliantly voiced by Robin Williams in what remains his best work in any comedy) looks better and brighter than ever. Purists may take umbrage, however. Some frames have been enhanced with redrawn images, and some artwork has been added.