20th Century Fox finally does right and delivers to Region 1 customers what Europeans have been enjoying for quite some time before this -- the two-disc Predator: Collector's Edition DVD! Save for packaging and some clips about the Alien vs. Predator knock-down-drag-out flick (which the disc was undoubtedly released to promote), the content is an exact transfer from the Region 2 disc that some region-free savvy customers have already indulged in. For many though, this stuff is all new -- finally, a disc that lives up to the blockbuster film that spawned a series. Also released in a full-screen edition, this disc comes with a superb anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen image and both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The audio tracks have taken a bit of heat in the past for minor annoyances (directional gunfire is a bit off), while the dialogue can be a tad on the soft side, though for the most part, the mix works and delivers where the goods count. Disc one comes with the film and two commentary tracks -- one with director John McTiernan and the other, a text commentary from a film historian and most of the main crew. McTiernan isn't known to be the most engaging fellow on earth, though if you can get past his sullen mood, then there will be plenty to learn from this aging director as he looks back on his second feature. Disc two is packed with extras that every Predator fan will love, starting with the 30-minute "If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It" documentary. With interviews spanning almost the entire cast and crew, the grueling behind-the-scenes tales of the production are fleshed out in extreme detail -- from the catastrophe of the original monster costume (worn by none other by the "Muscles From Brussels" himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme!) to the sweltering heat and jungle infections, it's one heck of a tale and a nice documentary to boot. Seven featurettes are listed in the "Inside the Predator" menu, each ranging from tributes to Kevin Peter Hall (the big man inside the suit) to good old "Painless" -- Jesse Ventura's Gatling gun. With even more sections dedicated to the FX of the film (including some brief glimpses of the first suit -- Ouch!), one deleted and basically unneeded scene for you to chew on, some outtakes, and a flurry of galleries for you to enjoy, there's more than enough extra stuff on this disc to make it worthwhile. Add in the trailer, and you have one massive two-disc with enough on-set interviews and hidden Easter eggs to keep any film buff occupied for an entire afternoon.

Curtis Hanson is such a talented filmmaker, it's really too bad that more content isn't added to his movies on DVD. As with L.A. Confidential, this disc doesn't go far enough. An extensive documentary on the making of this film would have been a real plus, but sadly all that is offered is a nine-minute featurette. As much cast and crew interviews and behind the scenes, as shots from the film, it just doesn't go much further than standard studio PR material. More important, and far longer at around 24 minutes, are actual rap battles put together by the filmmakers to keep the mass of extras actors content during filming. Beyond that is a music tie-in for the soundtracks that takes you to the specific place in the movie for each song, an extremely racy music video for "Superman" from Eminem, the theatrical trailer, and the standard slew of production notes and filmographies. As for the film itself, the sound is a real highlight. Present in 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS tracks (as well as a 5.1 track in French) the audio on this disc is very powerful. Since so much of the film is made up of rap music segments, the bass really takes control. The low frequencies are deep and rich, but dialogue is never indistinguishable. The image, framed at 2.35:1 and anamorphic (there is a separate pan-and-scan version, and both also come in censored and uncensored editions) is a faithful representation of the theatrical print. The transfer is nearly perfect, at least as it's intended to be. Grain is evident, and purposeful, while colors stand out against the dreary backgrounds of Detroit. Whether you are fan of Eminem or not, this film is the Rocky of rap films, and while lacking in significant supplements, the DVD is a knock-out punch.

Mel Gibson's Academy award-winning epic Braveheart comes to DVD in a fairly basic presentation that includes a widescreen, anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Surround Audio, and a commentary by Gibson. A "making of" featurette and two theatrical trailers complete this adequate disc. With any luck, a deluxe version of the DVD will be released in the not too distant future; Braveheart deserves better.