Video Reviews: 'The Last Samurai,' More

'The Last Samurai' (R) "Glory" director Edward Zwick creates another glorious movie in "The Last Samurai," an epic tale that follows a disillusioned soldier (Tom Cruise) wracked with guilt from the Civil War who trains Japanese soldiers to fight the country's remaining samurai warriors -- but finds redemption in the captivity of the enemy.

Whether it's on the bloody battlefields or the intimate environs of the samurai village, Zwick has an incredible handle on the filmmaking process. Sure, Cruise is billed over the title of the film, but Zwick really is the star.

That's not to say Cruise -- who plays Capt. Nathan Algren -- isn't convincing. He constantly commands your attention on screen, as does Oscar-nominee Ken Watanabe - who is magnetic as Algren's adversary-turned-ally Katsumoto. Billy Connolly and Tony Goldwyn are also solid in smaller supporting roles.

DVD Features: The 2-disc set includes commentary by Zwick; deleted scenes with commentary; a History Channel "History vs. Hollywood" documentary; production featurettes'; Japan premiere footage and more. (Warner Bros. Home Video)

'Ghosts Of The Abyss' (PG) There's no better way of putting it, "Titanic" filmmaker James Cameron's "Ghosts of the Abyss" is one of the best movies of 2003 that very few saw.

But that's not for the lack of trying. The film was a 3D IMAX documentary that was shown on less than 100 large-format screens when it opened. But now with its release on DVD, all fans of his "Titanic" or those simply fascinated by the history of the sunken vessel can get caught up in the awe-inspiring journey to the ocean floor of the North Atlantic.

Accompanied by "Titanic" co-star Bill Paxton and a crew of scientists, Cameron's documentary gives unprecedented view of Titanic.

And while the views of ship alone are enough to shoot a chill up your spine, Cameron puts the disaster into an amazing perspective by often superimposing computer-generated sets over several areas of the wreckage to help us imagine what the ship looked like in its full glory. It's an ingenious bit of filmmaking.

DVD Features: The 2-disc set includes the original 61-minute film and extended 92-minute version; making-of featurette including unseen footage and interviews; "The ROV Experience" - a multi-angle feature of different camera angles made during the dives and more. (Buena Vista Home Video)

Also New: The latest live-action version of "Peter Pan" (PG) will likely make younger viewers soar with excitement, but is more apt to leave "been-there-done-that" feeling for big kids who grew up with the animated classic Walt Disney.

The special effects are spectacular, no doubt, particularly a scene where Peter (Jeremy Sumpter) leads Wendy Darling (Rachel Hurd-Wood) and company fly through the solar system on their way to Never Never Land. The special effects outshine the acting, with the exception of Jason Isaacs, who's delightfully diabolical as Capt. Hook.

DVD Features include production featurettes, DVD-ROM activities and more. (Universal Studios Home Video)