DVDS SEARCHING FOR THRILLS IN `DA VINCI CODE'.

Byline: Robert Lowman Entertainment Editor

When I saw ``The Da Vinci Code'' in a theater, the teenage girl next me -- obviously dragged there by her mom -- fidgeted all the way through. The man on my other side, however, had tears in his eyes at the end.

My guess is that Dan Brown's thriller held some emotional (probably religious) significance to him, while the teen was just clueless about the film's comings and goings.

Ron Howard's filmmaking and Akiva Goldsman's script (the two had collaborated on the Oscar-winning ``A Beautiful Mind) didn't help clear things up for her.

To be fair, Brown's original text was the typical overwritten and overripe stuff that makes up most thrillers, and the action works better on the page than on screen, where it is too often clunky.

What made the book a sensation (and what drew me) was Brown's controversial story, which questions the divinity of Jesus. That in turn challenges the basic tenets of the Catholic Church and, in a larger sense, all of Christianity.

No doubt, you've heard it all before that Jesus may have had a family, that his blood line may be still going. But, like Brown's novel, the film offers its ideas politely, without actually demanding much of its audience. It is meant, after all, to be a page-turner.

Too bad the film doesn't work as well. Much of the time, the characters -- mostly Tom Hanks' Robert Langdon or Ian McKellen's Sir Leigh Teabing -- are left explaining much of the controversy. Luckily, Hanks and McKellen are interesting actors, but the challenge here is nearly impossible.

Fans should enjoy the numerous extras, which not only go behind the scenes, but also include a couple of featurettes on the controversy as well as an interview with Brown.

People who like puzzles may enjoy the film just for that, and there's a feature on the clues strewn throughout the film.

NEW FILMS

``Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man'' sings the praises of the legendary singer/songwriter -- and well-deserved they are. The nicely balanced documentary combines an extended interview with the now-71-year-old Cohen and a tribute concert organized by Hal Willner at the Sydney Opera House in January 2005. (Willner is interviewed on Page 6.)

The lineup included Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave and Beth Orton, but few have come close to giving a Cohen song the authority and depth he does, no matter how craggy his voice. Luckily, we do have his voice, and his self-deprecating and dark humor. If you somehow never warmed up to or discovered this amazing songwriter, ``I'm Your Man'' should open your eyes and ears.

``Who Killed the Electric Car?'' is not some offbeat murder mystery, but an intelligent documentary about the demise of a good intention. Spurred by the California Air Resources Board's zero-emission vehicle mandate in 1990, a number of car companies like General Motors started to develop electric cars.

While they may have been better for the environment, they weren't better for the bottom line. Nor were electric cars good for big oil.

So, what to do? Wait for the winds of political change. This could have been told in a doom-

and-gloom fashion, but filmmaker Chris Paine fashions an entertaining story -- narrated by Martin Sheen with lots of interviews of celebs and others.

TELEVISION

It has taken a number of years for me to appreciate ``CSI,'' though it's still a bit too procedural for my tastes. I get the attraction, but I prefer fewer bells and whistles about corpses and crime scenes with humans that don't make me feel like I'm in science class. (I like science, but I watch dramas for drama.)

The papa of the ``CSI'' franchises has become more interesting, judging by ``The Complete Sixth Season.''

The were changes at the end of the second season of ``NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service,'' a series that has the forensics of ``CSI'' but throws in an engaging cast -- headed by Mark Harmon as lead investigator Jethro Gibbs -- and snappier dialogue.

Second in command is Michael Weatherly's Tony Dinozzo, whose wise-guy attitude is a welcome addition to the show, as is the quirkiness of forensics expert Abby (Pauley Perrette) and medical examiner Dr. Donald ``Ducky'' Mallard (David McCallum).

It's too bad season three isn't out yet. (Season four is currently airing.) While the show has maintained its same dynamics, it also has moved on in other ways. So anyone who wants to catch up will have to wait.

OLDER FILMS

It's been 50 years since Robby the Robot appeared in ``Forbidden Planet,'' the classic 1956 sci-fi film based on Shakespeare's ``The Tempest.''

The film starred Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Morbius and Anne Francis as his daughter, Altaira, the only survivors on a barren planet that was meant to be colonized. (Robby is their servant.)

When a crew from Earth, headed by Leslie Nielsen, shows up, all hell breaks loose -- especially after Altaira learns how to kiss.

Here's a tidbit about the 1966 film ``Harper,'' which is part of ``The Paul Newman Collection.'' It originally was supposed to be ``Archer,'' which was the name of the character in Ross Macdonald's series of detective novels. But after Newman's success with Hombre'' and ``Hud,'' the studio thought another ``H'' film was in order. It still was breezy fun -- not particularly hard-boiled stuff, but Newman was winning. He would play the role again in the more somber ``The Drowning Pool'' (1975). In Arthur Pen's psychological take on Billy the Kid, the 1958 ``The Left-Handed Gun,'' Newman delivers a portrait of the killer that is somewhat sympathetic despite the unlikability of the character. The other films -- ``The Mackintosh Man,'' ``Pocket Money,'' ``Somebody Up There Likes Me'' and ``The Young Philadelphians'' -- all have their merit. But Newman is the rarest of stars -- he is both eminently watchable and likable on screen while having a boatload of talent.

Rob Lowman, [phone]

[e-mail]

NEW FILMS

``The Da Vinci Code'' (Columbia; $29.96)

``Who Killed the Electric Car?'' (Columbia; $26.96)

``Leonard Cohen -- I'' Your Man'' (Lionsgate; $27.98)

``49 Up'' (First Run; $29.95)

``Joyeux Noel'' (Columbia; $26.96)

``Sophie Scholl -- The Final Days'' Zeitgeist; $29.98

``Strangers with Candy'' (Velocity/Think Films: $27.98)

``Accepted'' (Universal; $29.98)

TELEVISION

``Family Guy, Vol. 4 (Season 4: Part 2)'' (Fox; $39.98)

``Six Feet Under -- The Complete Series Gift Set'' (HBO; $279.98)

``Northern Exposure -- The Complete Fifth Season'' (Universal; $59.98)

``That Girl -- Season 2'' (Shout Factory; $39.98)

``The Golden Girls -- The Complete Sixth Season'' (Buena Vista; $39.99)

``Columbo -- The Complete Sixth and Seventh Seasons'' (Universal; $39.98)

``Adventures of Superman -- The Complete Fifth and Sixth Seasons'' (Warner; $39.98)

``3rd Rock from the Sun: Season 6'' (Anchor Bay; $39.98)

``NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service -- The Complete Second Season'' (Paramount, $64.99)

``C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation -- The Complete Sixth Season'' (Paramount; $89.99)

``Lois & Clark -- The New Adventures of Superman - The Complete Fourth Season'' (Warner; $59.98)

``Family Guy -- Volumes 1-4'' (Fox; $179.92)

``Quantum Leap -- The Complete Fifth Season'' (Universal; $49.98)

``Little Britain -- The Complete Third Series'' (BBC/Warner; $29.99)

``Reba: Season 4'' (Fox: $29.98)

``Home Improvement -- The Complete Fifth Season'' (Touchstone; $39.98)

``Masters of Horror -- John McNaughton -- Haeckel's Tale'' (Anchor Bay; $16.98)

``Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters'' (HBO; $24.98)

OLDER FILMS

``Forbidden Planet'' (Warner; $19.95 for the single disc, $26.98 for the two-disc special edition and $59.98 for the ultimate collector's edition)

``The Paul Newman Collection'' (``Harper,'' ``The Drowning Pool,'' ``The Left-Handed Gun,'' ``The Mackintosh Man,''/``Pocket Money,'' ``Somebody Up There Likes Me,'' and ``The Young Philadelphians'') (Warner; $59.98)

IN CONCERT

``Drop Dead Gorgeous'' (Fox; $19.98)

``Paul McCartney -- The Space Within US'' (A&E: $34.98)

``James Taylor: Musicares Person of the Year Tribute'' (Rhino; $19.98)

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in a scene from ``The Da Vinci Code.''