Here's a review to accompany your "American Beauty" DVD. Yup, this is a disc you must own.

All sorts of wonderful movies are appearing on DVD. It does tend though to be the noisier action epics that get proper attention when it comes to 5.1 coding. Noise is fun, but then so are subtle effects that build an enveloping atmosphere around you. On that basis, David Lynch's "The Straight Story" easily has the best 5.1 track out there. And pleasingly, plenty of effort has also gone into the "American Beauty" disc too.

With the sound score providing the backdrop, the picture completes your entry into the suburban world of Lester Burnham (Spacey). The cinematography is polished with a vibrant palette, captured beautifully on a DVD that really impresses in the quality stakes.

For those of you who want to probe the phenomenon that is this movie, the disc offers some useful introspective features. First up is the obligatory 'behind the scenes' documentary. As is usually the case, everyone gushes but there is a genuine warmth and sincerity that is pleasing to watch because, for once, it's deserved.

The mutual admiration society continues for the 'storyboard comparison' with director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Conrad L Hall. They're right to be pleased with their movie. But this hour-long feature is too slow, and interesting detail is buried in a rambling conversation that lacks preparation.

Far tighter is the movie commentary by Mendes and writer Alan Ball. Mendes does most of the talking and dissects not only the technical processes of the film but also the acting. He claims to have listened to a lot of DVD commentaries and it shows, for his is one of the better efforts out there.

Chapters: 28
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, 'behind the scenes' featurette, commentary with director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Alan Ball, storyboard presentation with Sam Mendes and director of photography Conrad L Hall, two trailers, multiple languages, subtitles, English for the hearing impaired.