Play dvd movie on my computer

PLAY IT, SAM| Book/DVD combo catalogs 25 memorable movie moments

SPECIAL TO RAVE!

"My stock in trade is people's memories," says Joe Garner from his New York City hotel room on a balmy late-autumn day.

Smart guy, Garner. Some time ago, he figured out that the public shares some strong and universal memories about stuff such as radio, sports, television and movies.

Just say "Do you believe in miracles?" and somebody will pipe up, "Al Michaels calling the improbable U.S. hockey team's 1980 Olympic gold medal victory."

When I say, "Here's looking at you, kid," who doesn't know that I am conjuring Humphrey Bogart's crusty cafe-owner Rick Blaine in "Casablanca"? Likewise, I'll bet you can instantly link the following lines to the appropriate movie:

"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me . . . aren't you?"

"Stell-laaaah!" "I coulda had class, I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody."

"Phone home."

"You've got to ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?"

Garner has been collecting such memories for years and binding them up into attractive coffee table books with anecdotal text and pictures.

He's taken his stock in trade multimedia by affixing an audio CD or a DVD filled with those memories to each book.

Garner's most recent book, Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments from the Movies (Andrews McMeel, $29.95), was published in October. Inside the front cover is a 90-minute DVD with 25 scenes from such movies as "On the Waterfront," "Some Like It Hot," "Jaws," "Rocky," "National Lampoon's Animal House," "When Harry Met Sally" and "The Lord of the Rings." The scenes are sewn together by actor Dustin Hoffman (in perhaps one of the flattest performances of his career) who spins out anecdotes, inside scoops, facts and studio lore to introduce each movie.

The 160-page book is divided into the same 25 chapters and movies, starting with "The Wizard of Oz" and concluding with "The Lord of the Rings." The latter is so up to date it includes information on the computer-imaging techniques used to create the other-worldly character Gollum in the second "Rings" movie.

Between chapters are sidebars that tap into the vast reservoir of classic movies _ such as "Unforgettable Musical Moments," "Unforgettable Humphrey Bogart Moments," "Unforgettable Gangster Moments," "Unforgettable Movie Villains" and the like.

So, if you turn to chapter 18, Rob Reiner's romantic comedy masterpiece "When Harry Met Sally," you can read about the infamous "fake orgasm" scene in which Meg Ryan shows a nonplussed Billy Crystal that women can, and do, convincingly "fake it." The scene takes place in a very crowded Katz's Deli in Manhattan. At the end of Ryan's tour de force performance, a woman in a nearby booth (actually Reiner's mother, Estelle) nonchalantly tells her waiter "I'll have what she's having." It's the best line in the movie.

This is where you slip the DVD into your player and immediately watch the scene. Instant gratification.

This isn't Garner's first DVD/book combo. He previously published Stay Tuned: Television's Unforgettable Moments with a DVD narrated by Dick Van Dyke and Walter Cronkite. In fact, Now Showing is Garner's sixth multimedia book. Others, including We Interrupt This Broadcast, collect great moments in radio broadcast history and come with a companion CD.

Garner says limiting the book to 25 memorable movies with 25 memorable scenes was an arbitrary call.

"Twenty-five just seemed like an adequate number," he said.

But even 25 is a daunting figure when you consider that he must seek the permission of each actor in each scene, plus negotiate permission with the studios holding the rights to the movies.

And, of course, each artist and studio _ as well as the lawyers who knock out the deals _ must be paid fees.

Is the book complete? No. There was no way George Lucas was giving up a tidbit from "Star Wars" for a DVD when he has yet to deliver the whole movie in that format. And Garner will be the first to point out that this isn't called the Best Movie Moments.

"These moments belong to all of us," he says. "I'm the designated family historian."

r OTHER NEW RELEASES

[] "Bad Boys II" (Columbia TriStar) _ In this double-disc package, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith reprise their roles as Miami narcotics cops and cinematic demolition team Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery, respectively. Also back are the masters of cinema bombast, director Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

DVD bonus features include seven deleted scenes, 19 production diaries, a feature on stunts and one on visual effects, as well as detailed "breakdowns" of six scenes. Also in the house, Jay-Z's music video for "La-La-La."

[] "Gigli" (Columbia TriStar/Revolution) _ Ben Affleck is Larry Gigli, a small-time two-strike street thug who is paired with Ricki (Jennifer Lopez), a more-seasoned gangster with a track record Gigli can only wish he had. Naturally, he chaffs at being paired with a woman. When the job goes bad, the pair find they work better together.

"Gigli" was universally panned by critics. And audiences stayed away. Affleck and Lopez even took a break from their way-too-public relationship, after announcing plans to marry.

Indicative of a Class A flop, this domestic release with major star headliners contains no DVD extras beyond subtitles in eight languages. No matter which language you use, the key word is "stinko."

[] "How to Deal" (New Line) _ Popstar/actress Mandy Moore is a teen with a cynical outlook on love in this teen-oriented lightweight romantic drama. It also stars Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Alexandra Holden and Trent Ford.

DVD extras include a commentary track by Moore, Holden and director Clare Kilner. There are also four deleted scenes and video profiles on Moore, Kilner and Ford. Two music videos are available: Liz Phair's " Why Can't I?" and Skye Sweetnam's "Billy S." On DVD- ROM, fans can access a "script-to-screen" screenplay, photo gallery and more.

[] "The Battle for Shaker Heights" (Miramax) _ This is a coming- of-age comedy developed through the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon Project Greenlight contest for undiscovered talent. The always engaging Shia LaBeouf is a teen with a penchant for World War II battle re- enactments. He's also the brunt of cruelty from the school bully and painfully in love with his sister's best friend (Amy Smart). Also stars Eldon Hensen, Kathleen Quinlan and William Sadler. r Robert J. Hawkins writes for the Copley News Service.