Blockbusters and Classics Fill DVD Holiday Bag

Crave some sillier fare? That's also on the calendar. From cartoon land, Disney graces the scene with three new issues in its "Treasures" collection. The three DVDs coming on Dec. 7 will be a collection focused on goofball hound Pluto, ancient black and white Mickey Mouse shorts and highlights from the Mickey Mouse Club show. Be prepared to move quickly, as many of the original nostalgia-filled discs in the first set of this series sold out two years ago and are out of print.

Before his infamous episode in an adult movie theater, Paul Reubens was the star of the delightful children's series Pee Wee's Playhouse. Reunite with Reba the mail lady, Cowboy Curtis and Conky the robot when the first three seasons hit DVD on Nov. 16. I still remember fondly the time that the secret word of the day was "zyzzybalubah."

Speaking of the secret word of the day, here's an alert for Marx Brothers fans and those who shop for them: Universal studios has just released a five-movie boxed set of some of the finest and silliest works by Groucho and siblings, including Animal Crackers, Duck Soup and Horse Feathers.

As always, the studios will also be releasing some of the most popular 2004 summer movies. Unlike prior years, however, this time around the studios put their trust in some less well-known and edgier directors and the results are extra pleasing.

The third installment of J.K. Rowlings' world of wizardry brought to the big screen, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, arrives Nov. 23. Share your turkey day with Hogwart's third years Harry, Hermione and Ron in the darkest and most satisfying Potter adventure to date thanks to Spanish director Alfonso Cuaron. After watching the flick, divert yourself with the several included documentary features and try to forget that J.K. has yet to set a date for the release of the next installment in book form -- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Spider-Man 2 arrives on DVD Nov. 30. Directed by horror-meister Sam Raimi and returning Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in the lead roles, many critics found it more enjoyable than the first installment.

And what would the holidays be without another chapter in the greatest fantasy movie serial ever made? Peter Jackson's crowning achievement, the director's cut of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, will be issued on Dec. 14 with almost an hour of extra footage. Buy the super-special boxed set of all three LOTR extended editions and you'll have enough hobbits and orcs to get through the holiday season and on to New Year's.