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Get Smart

This week's new releases, by Jay Bobbin of Zap2it, are rated on a scale of one to four, with * equivalent to a poor rating and **** meaning excellent.

GET SMART

***

Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway are in CONTROL -- in more ways than one -- as they assume Don Adams and Barbara Feldon's classic television roles as Agents 86 and 99 in this update, which is more successful than most big-screen takes on small-screen shows. As usual, the spies' organization is locked in combat with the enemy force known as KAOS, and it's up to Smart to overcome his cloddish ways to save the day. Co-stars include Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, James Caan, Bill Murray, Masi Oka ("Heroes") and the original show's Bernie Kopell. DVD extras: three "making-of" documentaries; alternate scenes; outtakes; digital copy of the film.

TRANSSIBERIAN

***

The usual tranquility of train travel is interrupted by danger -- as it so often is in locomotive-set movies -- in "Next Stop Wonderland" director Brad Anderson's melodrama, casting Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer as do-gooders detouring from a return to America by taking a trip on the tracks. They find themselves in peril after befriending another couple (Eduardo Noriega, Kate Mara) sought by a Russian investigator (Oscar winner Ben Kingsley), with the excursion eventually turning quite brutal. Thomas Kretchsmann ("The Pianist") also appears.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE COMPLETE TELEVISION SERIES

**

Fans of the saga of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her frontier family don't need to know much more than the title indicates here. Following his tenure on "Bonanza," Michael Landon had another long television run as star and executive producer of one of the most wholesome series ever to hit the airwaves. Melissa Gilbert became a young star as Laura, alias "Half Pint." Karen Grassle, Melissa Sue Anderson, Alison Arngrim and Merlin Olsen were among the show's other cast regulars. DVD extras: two "making-of" documentaries; audio commentary by Arngrim on selected episodes; interviews with Olsen and co-stars Matthew and Patrick Labyorteaux.

Oldies but goodies

REAPER: SEASON ONE

***

One of the treats of the past television season was this cleverly written CW horror-comedy about big-box store employee Sam (Bret Harrison), whose parents literally sold his soul to the devil. In the sly, suave persona of "Twin Peaks" veteran Ray Wise, Satan comes calling and deputizes Sam to collect the escaped souls of bad people and return them to their rightful place -- where it's rather hot. Missy Peregrym ("Stick It") is appealing as the co-worker Sam adores, and Tyler Labine and Rick Gonzalez are amusing as Sam's pals.

POPEYE THE SAILOR: 1941-1943,

VOLUME THREE

***

Spinach never has had a bigger advocate than the cartoon seafarer who stays "strong to the finish," thanks to his favourite method of going green. More than 30 classic short subjects feature his adventures in wooing Olive Oyl and battling Bluto, with such famous characters as hamburger-craving Wimpy and little Swee'pea also present.

n Little Screen appears in Life & Times each Friday.