DVD REVIEW '21 GRAMS' WEIGHS ON EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

Had Sean Penn not gotten a best-actor Oscar nomination for ``Mystic River,'' he undoubtedly would have for ``21 Grams.'' His co-stars - Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro - received acting nods in this story of three people whose lives are slipping away from them.

Penn plays Paul, a professor who is facing a heart transplant. Rather than feeling he'd have a new lease on life, Paul feels guilty, believing he is undeserving. Meanwhile, his wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is urging him to donate sperm so that she might have a baby in case he dies. Watts' Christina is happily married with children, but a tragedy sends her into an emotional spiral. Del Toro's Jack is an ex-con with drug and alcohol problems who has turned to Jesus for his cure.

The three are linked by a tragic event, although it's not clear what it is at first. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu takes a circuitous route to tell the tale, which falls between good storytelling and artifice. Had the acting been any less stellar, ``21 Grams'' might have have fallen into melodrama. While each of the characters is damaged, none of the actors resort to gimmicks in their portrayals: Penn has a simmering intensity; Watts takes us on her emotional roller coaster; Del Toro seems to embody his character's ruined soul.

In ``21 Grams,'' the talented Inarritu (``Amores Perros'') is reaching for something with a philosophical and emotional impact, and he should be lauded for his ambitions. But the film is often more a puzzle then a defined thesis. This story seems to call on the audience to bring its own experiences to the table as it deals with the mysteries of life and death. But there is one thing for sure - it's unlikely that you will be unaffected by ``21 Grams.''

`21 Grams'' (Universal; $26.98).

This Seuss isn't worthy

What made Dr. Seuss - Theodor Geisel - such a wonderful children's book writer was his sparkling wit; what makes ``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat'' - the Mike Myers vehicle - so disheartening is its utter lack of wit.

While Myers' sophomoric humor is suited for - and often effective - in films such as ``Wayne's World'' and ``Austin Powers,'' it is completely out of place in the playful world of Dr. Seuss. Cleverness has been sacrificed for lowbrow scatological jokes. (There are some in Hollywood who should pick up a psychology book or two to try to understand this fetish - or better, simply seek therapy.)

While there are places for such humor, it requires a modicum of intelligence to pull it off. Instead, this filmed version of ``Cat in the Hat'' - directed by Bo Welch with a screenplay by three writers - is a self-indulgent mess seemingly perpetrated by over-age frat boys.

What children of all ages want is some magic in their films. That is what Dr. Seuss brought. ``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat,'' however, is ... well, just refer to those scatological jokes.

``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat'' (Universal; $26.98) includes commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes and 10 behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Reluctant 'Kung Fu' warrior

Yo, Grasshopper, snatch ``Kung Fu: The Complete First Season'' from my hand. Not so easy is it?

Now the landmark TV series that first premiered in 1972 and ran for three seasons is out on DVD. It told the story of Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), a half-white, half-Chinese man trained in China by Shaolin priests - the kindly blind Master Po (Keye Luke) and Master Kan (Philip Ahn) - before having to flee to America, where his story is told in flashbacks.

The show was originally conceived in part by martial-arts star Bruce Lee for himself, but Hollywood was leery of letting someone who was really Chinese carry a show on America television. While it was an injustice - and Lee proved Hollywood wrong with his U.S. movie hits - Carradine brought a certain weight to the role.

A pacifist at heart, Caine would only fight when absolutely necessary, preferring to turn the other cheek or accept ridicule rather than battle. This made him unique among TV heroes. But since the martial art of kung fu was the rage then, you knew that - more likely than not - there would be a fight, which was artfully shot. Still, it was the reluctance of Caine to engage in combat that made the series so memorable.

``Kung Fu: The Complete First Season'' (Warner; $39.98). It includes all 15 episodes plus the 90-minute pilot episode - all remastered, and two featurettes: ``From Grasshopper to Caine: Creating Kung Fu'' and ``The Tao of Kwai Chang Caine: Production and Beyond.''

All things British

There are some British TV productions to keep an eye out for. ``Prime Suspect 2'' and ``3'' are out, starring Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, the head of a top crime investigative team. Shows like this and ``Cracker'' - season 2 is out now - put American crime procedurals to shame. ``Cracker'' stars Robbie Coltrane as hard-living psychologist Eddie ``Fitz'' Fitzgerald, who consults with the police on tough murder investigations. Definitely worth the time.

For laughs, the gals from ``Absolutely Fabulous'' are back with season 5. Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) remain the epitome of hip unconsciousness and self-indulgence. While U.S. TV shows are trying to push the limits in outrageousness, it seems that every time they do, they fail miserably when it comes to laughs. ``Absolutely Fabulous'' succeeds, often brilliantly.

``Absolutely Fabulous - Complete Season 5'' (Warner; $34.98) includes eight episodes on two discs and 15 minutes of outtakes.

``Cracker - Series 2'' (Warner; $39.98).

``Prime Suspect 2'' and ``Prime Suspect 3'' (Warner; $29.98 each).

Rob Lowman, [phone]

robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) SEAN PENN and NAOMI WATTS in ``21 Grams''

(2) MIKE MYERS in ``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat''

(3) DAVID CARRADINE in ``Kung Fu''