Terry Farrell

Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Brad Garrett brings "The Great One" to life in this made-for-TV biography of video icon Jackie Gleason. The product of a fractious Brooklyn childhood, capped by the abrupt desertion of his ne'er-do-well father, Gleason launches his show business career with the motto "Never depend on anyone." Yet because of his multitude of insecurities, he demands total loyalty and 100-percent devotion from everyone around him. Trouble is, he has no loyalty or devotion to give in return: Dedicated to his career, his drinking, and his womanizing (not always in that order), Jackie neglects his wife Gen (Gretchen Egolf) and his children, tyrannizes his associates in general and his faithful agent George "Bullets" Durgom (Saul Rubinek) in particular, and shamelessly steals other people's ideas and comedy material, claiming it exclusively as his own. For all his bluster and bullying, Gleason remains likable and arguably even lovable -- just like his most famous TV character, Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden (indeed, the script suggests that Gleason was Kramden and Kramden was Gleason -- and that Jackie was envious of Ralph's ability to "make things up" to his long-suffering wife Alice at the end of each Honeymooners sketch). The film is at its best in its re-creations of Gleason's stage and TV triumphs, though one could nitpick about the hazy and often downright inaccurate chronology of events. As the title character, Brad Garrett offers an uncannily on-target portrayal, despite the fact that the 6'8" actor was nearly a foot taller than the real Gleason (this discrepancy was amply compensated for by the clever camera angles of cinematographer Neil Roach, not to mention the elevator shoes worn by practically every other member of the cast). Of the supporting players, Gretchen Egolf and Terry Farrell are superb as Jackie's first and second wives respectively, while Michael Chieffo's portrayal of Art Carney is eerily perfect. Co-written by Michael Preminger and Rick Podell, the same team responsible for Jackie Gleason's final theatrical feature Nothing in Common, Gleason made its CBS network debut on October 13, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This box set contains the complete sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on DVD from Paramount. Originally produced in 1997, the 26 original broadcast episodes are available on seven discs. Presented in a standard full-frame transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, subtitles and closed captions are available in English. The special features include four exclusive featurettes: "Mission Inquiry: Far Beyond the Stars" is an in-depth look at the episode "Far Beyond the Stars" and features cast and crew interviews; "24th Century Wedding" is a cast and crew discussion about the Klingon wedding between Worf and Dax; "The Crew Dossier" section profiles the characters of Julian Bashir and Quark; and Star Trek illustrator John Eaves provides a look at the production design in "DS9 Sketchbook." A photo gallery is also included. With more than 20 hours of material, this exhaustive DVD box set is in keeping with Paramount's other fine releases of the series. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

This boxed set contains the complete fourth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on DVD from Paramount. Originally produced from 1995-1996, the 25 original broadcast episodes are available on seven discs. Presented in a standard full-frame transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Subtitles are available in English. The special features include four exclusive featurettes. "Charting New Territory: Deep Space Nine Season Four" explores the major highlights of season four from the two-part season opener, "The Way of the Warrior," to the season finale, "Broken Link." Includes interviews with executive producer Ira Steven Behr, director Avery Brooks, and writer Ronald D. Moore. "Crew Dossier: Worf" is an exclusive interview with actor Michael Dorn about his decision to join the cast. "Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Four" examines the creations of the creatures on the show. "Deep Space Nine Sketchbook: John Eaves" features the preliminary illustrations for a few episodes. With over 20 hours of material, this exhaustive DVD box set is in keeping with Paramount's other fine releases of the series. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

In this police drama, a Japanese cop scours Los Angeles in hopes of finding the crooks who killed his partner. His investigation lands him in the middle of a major illegal arms dealership. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Disowned by her wealthy family, a determined young woman moves to San Francisco and tries to become a famous singer and to find lasting love. This sudsy drama chronicles her decade-long struggle. Through it all, she finds romance with an old flame. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This six-disc set collects the entire first season of the ambitious science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which has been given a presentation certain to please fans. The episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine included on this set have been transferred to disc in their original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1, and the audio has been mastered in two formats, Dolby Digital Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1. The dialogue is in English, with optional English subtitles but no multiple language options. Bonus materials include a profile of actress Kira Nerys, who plays Kira; a short documentary on the creation of the Deep Space Nine series; a visit with makeup Michael Westmore as he discusses his alien designs for the show; an interview with designer Rick Sternbach, who talks about the design of the spacecraft on the series; two features on the unusual props used on Deep Space Nine; and a gallery of production photos. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A sleazy nightclub owner purchases a strange, disturbing sculpture, which he soon discovers contains a mysterious, ornate puzzle box. This box is a legendary object that promises the secrets of ultimate pain and pleasure, but is in fact a gateway to hell. Soon the box's new owner has unleashed the evil Pinhead, a member of a race of supernatural beings known as Cenobites. Pinhead proceeds to murder numerous clubgoers in an attempt to gain power and fully free himself into the earthly realm. He faces unexpected opposition, however, from a television reporter investigating the mysterious club murders. When she discovers the truth behind the enigmatic puzzle box, she realizes that only she can stop the carnage. However, she must not only defeat Pinhead, but his fellow Cenobites, including the barbed-wire-wrapped Barbie and the horrific CD-Head. (Yes, CD-Head does indeed kill people by shooting CDs from his head.) Though this third entry in the Hellraiser series pays lip service to the intricate mythology of the first two films, especially through a series of flashbacks to Pinhead's human past, the film soon reverts to a fairly standard slasher formula. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Mark Harmon stars as baby-faced serial killer Ted Bundy in this sobering 2-part TV movie. Ostensibly the archetypal All-American boy, Bundy was, from 1974 onward, responsible for the rapes and murders of several young women in the Pacific Northwest. The clues begin to mount when one of Bundy's victims manages to escape; she can only say that her assailant was a fellow named Ted who drives a yellow Volkswagen. Finally arrested after he moves from Seattle to Utah, Bundy is so certain of his superiority over the general run of human beings that he conducts his own defense at his trial; then, when extradited to Colorado, he escapes, triggering a desperate nationwide manhunt. At the time Deliberate Stranger was first telecast on May 5 and 6, 1986, Theodore Bundy was on Death Row, still contesting his sentence and seeking a legal way out. When time came for his execution, Bundy attempted several bizarre last-minute "stays," which would make intriguing subject matter should someone want to make a follow-up film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Self-made wealthy guy Rodney Dangerfield decides he needs a better education--and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Dangerfield joins his son Keith Gordon at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Sally Kellerman forms a strong bond with Dangerfield, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide