Thomas J. Norton

<I>Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, Tony Shaloub, Patrick Warburton, Jack Kehler, Rip Torn. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French). Two discs. 88 minutes. 2002. Columbia TriStar Home Video 39940. PG-13. $28.96.</I>

As noted in a number of British journals in early February, including <A HREF="http://www.newscientist.com">New Scientist</A> (February 6, 2003)&mdash;reports brought to our attention by <I>SGHT</I> contributor J. Gordon Holt&mdash;scientists at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a new super-black coating that is said to reflect less the 0.35% of the light that strikes it, an absorption efficiency about seven times better than black paint. The coating can be put on materials ranging from metals to ceramics.

<I>Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Cherry Jones, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1, THX. 107 minutes. 2002. Buena Vista Home Entertainment 2789903. PG-13. $29.99.</I>

<I>Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX (English, French), DTS 5.1 Surround ES. Two discs. 121 minutes. 1982. Universal 22257. PG. $29.98.</I>