VIDEO THIS 'TARZAN' STILL THE KING.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

We've been remiss in recent weeks in mentioning two DVD releases that shouldn't be missed.

``Tarzan,'' which came out last summer, proves once again why Disney is the king of animation despite numerous and expensive attempts to dethrone the studio in recent years (think Fox's ``Anastasia'' or DreamWorks' ``Prince of Egypt'').

Besides being, as you would expect, as family-friendly as ever, ``Tarzan'' is gorgeous, kinetic eye candy. Over the last 10 years or so, the Disney studio has consistently produced entertaining and enjoyable animated films while continuing to push the technological envelope (from ``Beauty and the Beast'' to ``Toy Story'' to ``A Bug's Life''), and ``Tarzan'' is no exception. Using background-enhancing technology that Disney artists call ``deep canvas,'' the film has a painterly, detailed quality, with fewer hard edges and a richer, more three-dimensional feel than you see in most animation.

Nowhere does this depth come through better than in the look of the African forest, which instead of being just scenic background takes on a life of its own as much as any of the characters. The scenes in which Tarzan (voiced by Tony Goldwyn) swings on vines (or surfs on branches) through the jungle are exhilarating. When the apeman helps Jane (Minnie Driver) escape from a pack of wild monkeys, the chase through the treetops has the feel of an amusement park ride.

But ``Tarzan'' succeeds because it is more than a mere technological triumph; it's a romantic adventure with an emotional edge that manages to (perhaps because of its animation) bring the hero of this fantastical tale from Edgar Rice Burroughs to life better than the nearly 50 previous filmed versions.

Give credit to directors Kevin Lima and Chris Buck, writers Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, and the Disney artists in taking the familiar Tarzan story and, ironically, making it less cartoonish and more human - even if Tarzan is raised by a band of apes. But his gorilla family - as with any clan - has its own problems, and it is in this that ``Tarzan's '' message of belonging, family, loyalty and love begins.

One of the best films of last year, ``Tarzan'' is entertaining and fun for kids. Phil Collins' score and songs are a perfect complement to the joy onscreen. But no adult should be embarrassed to rent or buy this film. Disney has created a classic for the ages.

And as much as it sounds like boosterism (no, I'm not on Disney's payroll; they make plenty of turkeys outside of animation), the seven- minute preview on the ``Tarzan'' DVD of their next big animation feature, ``Dinosaur'' (due out May 19) is simply breathtaking.

Director John McTiernan's remake of the Steve McQueen-Faye Dunaway romantic thriller ``The Thomas Crown Affair'' with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo is perfect entertainment for those of us tired of seeing teens in angst, in heat, in whatever. This delicious cat-and-mouse game has exotic settings, glamorous clothes and fabulous sex (well, at least it looks fabulous), and reminds aging boomers that maybe youth is wasted on the young (or at least too many movie and TV plots).

While ``Crown'' may not be a classic, it sparkles as pure entertainment. And fun films that don't cater to the under-25 crowd are hard to find.

``Tarzan'' is $34.99 for the DVD and $24.99 for VHS. The DVD includes Collins' ``Strangers Like Me'' music video, plus ``Trashin' the Camp,'' a behind-the-scenes studio session with Collins and 'N Sync, a peek at Disney's upcoming ``Dinosaur,'' and the ``Tarzan'' Interactive Trivia Game & and Interactive Read-Along. ``The Thomas Crown Affair'' from MGM is priced for rental or sale on VHS ($106.99). The DVD ($24.90) includes commentary by McTiernan.

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Tarzan (voiced by Tony Goldwyn) and Jane (Minnie Driver) take a quiet moment to get to know one another in Disney's animated ``Tarzan,'' available on DVD.