Short circuits

Last update: August 20, 2007 - 11:58 PM

SHORT CIRCUITS

Here's a brief look at new and noteworthy experiences among DVDs, video games, gadgets and the Web.

DVD

"Serenity: Collector's Edition" (Universal, $27): Joss Whedon's unjustly canceled TV series "Firefly" and the follow-up film flop "Serenity" failed to find a mainstream audience, but fans are ensuring that the latter is doing just fine on DVD, thank you. Today's two-disc special edition of the smartly realized adventures of ragtag space mercenaries follows a decent 2005 DVD and the 2006 HD-DVD, one of the first hits in that emerging high-def format. All of the extras from those editions return for the nifty new set, plus commentary by Whedon and the actors, extended scenes and webisodes. Nothing has been announced, but an eventual high-def redo seems likely.

CLIP

Tay Zonday send-ups (www. youtube.com): If you haven't seen Tay Zonday's "Chocolate Rain" video on YouTube (www.startribune.com/a3204), you're about 6 million views late to the sensation created by University of Minnesota grad student Adam Bahner. Catch up with the dweebish singer with he-man vocals; then jump into the parodies that have surfaced in the wake of his Web-born celebrity. Favorites include the Darth Vader remixes (www.startribune.com/a3207), the 8-bit video-game remix (www.startribune.com/a3206) and a vintage McDonald's commercial (www.startribune.com/a3208).

GAME

"Boogie" (EA, $60 for Wii): It's time to get down with "Boogie" fever. With the popularity of video games such as "Karaoke Revolution" and "Dance Dance Revolution," why not a title that combines singing and moving? To progress, you'll have to croon old and new pop songs (a microphone is included) and wave around the motion-sensing Wiimote controller in time to the beat. While "Boogie" is not the same old song and dance, this goofy puppy might be more fun for all-ages Wii get-togethers than for solo performances.

RANDY A. SALAS