DVD Pick of the Week.

This week's pick is Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. This is a wonderful film, which I thought would finally get Scorsese his long overdue Best Director Oscar, but alas, it was not to be.

I am not sure how accurate the portrayal of Howard Hughes is, but knowing Scorsese's knowledge of film history and sheer love for the cinema leads me to believe that it is more truthful than not.

The film itself is wonderful. It provides a fascinating portrait of Hughes and all of his eccentricities, but it is much more than that. It also gives a glimpse into the aura of film industry of the period, the stars, the movies, everything. We get to see films in the process of being made, as Hughes obsesses.

This definitely one of the best films of 2004 and not one to be missed.

Other titles coming out this week:

• Airwolf: Season 1. I never watched this much, surprising since it seems to be right up my alley. A super helicopter, what more do you want?
• The Batman: Season 1 Volume 1 - Training for Power. Still not sure what I think of this latest animated incarnation of the bat. It has an odd feel to it, but then I haven't watched that much of it yet.
• Batman: The Animated Series Voume 3. Now this is what Batman is all about. Possibly the best video version of the Bat.
• Chappelle's Show: Season 2. I don't watch regularly, but I really enjoyed season 1.
• The Day After Tomorrow: 2 Disk Collector's Edition. Wish I didn't by that initial release, but interest has waned and I don't think it is worth another buy. The first disk seemed to have some decent extras.
• The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. This looks cool. A collection Fatty's films that he either starred or directed in with some of the other silent comedy luminaries such as Chaplin, Lloyd, and Keaton.
• I, Robot: 2 Disk Collector's Edition. Not sure it is worthy of being called a good film, but it is entetaining, and I may like to see the new extras package.
• The Job: The Complete Series. The Dennis Leary series which should have had a longer run that it had, searching for new life on DVD.
• Man on Fire: 2 Disk Collector's Edition. A good movie, but not sure it is worthy of the 2 disk treatment.
• Samurai Jack: Season 2. Genndy Tarkovsky's masterpiece marches on. This is a wonderful series.
• Super Friends: Volume 2. This stirs up a lot of nostalgia, I remember watching this as a kid.
• Everybody Loves Raymond: Finale. Strike while the iron is hot, much like Friends, get that finale out there before everyone forgets.
• The Godfather Part II and III. For those who didn't want to get the boxset, now you can choose which ones you want.

That's all for this week.

Also at Blogcritics.org.