DVD New set is a mystery The fact that so much vintage television is available on DVD these days means that there will be some dross among the gold. "The Agatha Christie Hour" (Acordn, $40) isn't dross, but it does have limited charms, especially for anyone expecting the perfection Christie reached as one of the world's greatest mystery authors. The five episodes are not mysteries at all, but conventional short stories of manners. They demonstrate her abiding interest in the ironies of human behavior, the same ironies she would use to much better advantage in her "Poirot" and "Miss Marple" stories. "In a Glass Darkly," for example, is kind of a Christie ghost story, a "Twilight Zone" tale of a young man who believes he sees a vision of a lovely young woman being murdered by her new husband, only to find out that something entirely different -- yet the same -- is in the offing. The episodes are mildly entertaining, and they do exhibit some of the characteristics that made Christie's mysteries so superior.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Out Tuesday: "Adam-12" (Season 5), "Date Night," "Death at a Funeral," "Helen," "The Joneses," "Letters to God," "Max Headroom" (full series), "Numb3rs " (Season 6), "Trauma" (Season 1), "Triage," and Blu-rays of "Beverly Hills Cop Collection," "Crumb," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "National Lampoon's European Vacation" and "What's Up, Doc?"
GAME
Not worth the fight If "Tournament of Legends" ($30 for Wii; rated Teen) were a puzzle, it would look properly put together -- from a distance. It's when you get up close and inspect the construction that you notice the missing pieces, or pieces jammed into the wrong spaces. The fighting game features only 10 combatants based on classic characters, like a stone golem or a gladiator or a minotaur. It's a thin roster, but their customized weapons, spells and fighting techniques lend each depth. Sadly, the positives end once the actual fighting begins. There are some beautifully rendered arenas where the battles take place, but they are so cramped as to hinder any strategy you might implement. Add in a poorly designed camera system, and the fighting just gets claustrophobic. It would be great if looks alone could guarantee success, but a video game needs to be playable and enjoyable as well. "Tournament of Legends" comes up short.
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
WEB
An online Enterprise The adventure continues for Atari's massive multiplayer environment "Star Trek Online" (www.startrekonline.com). A content update titled "Season Two: Ancient Enemies" is now available, introducing a higher level cap, new rewards and content, eight new Klingon-themed episodes, a new neutral race called the Deferi and a diplomacy gameplay option. The update is available to current Trek players at no cost. For new recruits, "Star Trek Online" has been repriced to sell for $20.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
