DVD REVIEWS 'SEABISCUIT' HAS LEGS ON FILM.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

One of the criticisms of ``Seabiscuit'' when it came out in theaters last summer was the inclusion of voice-overs by David McCullough. The popular historian is known for such work on filmmaker Ken Burns' lauded PBS series ``The Civil War.'' For some, the sonorous reading accompanying the archival photographs of the Depression era, when the famed undersize horse raced, made the film too much like a PBS documentary.

Perhaps director Gary Ross' strategy took away from the rhythm of the drama in theaters. But having seen it for the first time on DVD, I found his attempt to add historic perspective to the story of Seabiscuit - a horse that was dismissed countless times in its early career as too small, too slow or simply untrainable - gave it a context that resonated throughout the film. Otherwise, it would be just another horse story. The interest in Seabiscuit would be unparalleled today, an era when less than 4 percent of the nation watching a network program makes it a hit.

According to Laura Hillenbrand, who wrote the book on which the movie is based, Seabiscuit was the nation's biggest newsmaker in 1938, attracting more coverage than President Franklin D. Roosevelt or Adolf Hitler. This was spurred by the great match race that year between the underdog Seabiscuit and Triple Crown champion War Admiral, whose owner rejected the challenge a number of times before accepting. Seabiscuit, which was out of the West, was seen as the horse of the people - those who had been kicked and beaten down by the Depression but were fighting back - against the seemingly unbeatable and much larger War Admiral, which seemed to represent the establishment. The outcome of the race, which was held Nov. 1, 1938, at Pimlico Race Course near Baltimore, is no secret - otherwise there would be no legend.

But the race would not be the last obstacle for the horse to overcome - or for its owner, Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges), rider Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire) or trainer Tom Smith (Chris Cooper). ``Seabiscuit'' is a finely told, compelling story aided by some excellent performances, particularly by Cooper. And to offset those serious history lessons, there are some of the best horse-racing scenes captured on film - plus William H. Macy, as a rapid-fire, wisecracking radio broadcaster who pumps up Seabiscuit's popularity.

``Seabiscuit'' (Universal; $26.98) includes commentary by Ross and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, three featurettes and Bridges' on-set photographs.

It's 'Freaky Friday' again

``Freaky Friday,'' the Disney remake of its own 1976 film about a mother and daughter literally trading places by inhabiting each other's body, is charming but with faults. This time around, it's Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan who get to walk in each other's shoes. For Lohan's teenage Anna, it begins with the horror of being ``old,'' like the ``cryptkeeper.'' As for Curtis' Dr. Tess Coleman, a widowed psychologist, it puts a crimp in her wedding, which is planned for the next day. The fun is in the exchange. When Tess catches Anna (in her body) eating french fries, she scolds her for adding cellulite to her thighs but realizes that she - in Anna's body - has nothing to fear, so she digs in.

Anna in Tess' body not only has to contend with some flab, but the multitasking life of her mother, who she views as controlling and someone she can't communicate with. Tess in Anna's body must not only handle school, good friends and bad enemies, but the uneasiness of dealing with the opposite sex. Lohan and Curtis are more than up to the task of making the switch seem believable (at least with the fantasy of the film), especially Curtis with her teen mannerisms.

Some of the setup to the exchange as well as some other predictable elements fall flat. Of course, the lesson is supposed to be that parents and children don't really understand each's other's problems or concerns. But director Mark Waters keeps it mostly light and witty, and there's enough energy in ``Freaky Friday'' to keep it charged up.

``Freaky Friday'' (Universal; $29.99) includes deleted scene and alternate endings, bloopers, two music videos and a featurette with Lohan.

Not terribly 'Extraordinary'

Another comic book adaptation, another lackluster film. ``The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' - taken from the comics of the same name about a group of Victorian superheroes - is an uneasy fit. Starring Sean Connery as Allan Quatermain, it includes other literary figures such as Capt. Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), Rodney Skinner aka the invisible man (Tony Curran), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West), and Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde (Jason Flemyng). Hyde, by the way, is very Hulk-like - an odd coincidence since ``Hulk'' also came out last summer.

The band has been brought together by the queen to stop a plot by the mysterious Fantom to first sink Venice and then to - of course - move on to world domination. Directed by Stephen Norrington, ``LEG'' dives quickly into the action whenever the plot or character development flags, which is too often. Connery seems weary of playing adventurers and doesn't add much to the role. As the only woman, Wilson is pretty cool as the good vampire, which Norrington, who directed ``Blade,'' knows about.

``The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' (Fox; $27.98) includes two sets of commentaries, a behind-the-scenes documentary and 12 deleted and extended scenes.

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Photo:

War Admiral, left, races Seabiscuit in ``Seabiscuit.''