Ailing health system gets Moore treatment

"Sicko" -- By now, it should be clear to everyone that Michael Moore doesn't make "documentaries" in the strict sense. His movies are more like filmed op-ed pieces, essays in which he argues a very specific point of view. Criticizing his films because they're not objective makes as little sense as eating a banana split and complaining that it tastes nothing like a hot dog. So, having said all that, let's look at "Sicko," Moore's latest, and most powerful, film. With his usual mix of humor, real-life case studies and self-promotion, Moore creates a devastating call for health-care reform in the U.S. He starts by pointing out that 50 million Americans remain uninsured, then quickly adds that "Sicko" isn't about them. Instead, it's about the millions who do have health insurance, but still can't get quality, compassionate care. You'll want to cry as Moore provides example after painful example of people who are denied payment by insurance companies for important medical procedures. In one particularly moving case, a woman describes a fight she had with her insurance company over a cancer treatment her husband needed. After weeks of letters, phone calls and frustration, her husband died. Moore also interviews people who have worked inside the industry; all of them say that the system is built on denying payment for health care. Approving payment, they say, is viewed as a failure. Moore uses the same rhetorical tricks in "Sicko" that he's used in past films, but he tones down his own rabble-rousing persona, which gives the stories more weight. (Unfortunately, Moore can't resist a jarringly silly stunt that involves a trip to Guantanamo Bay.) Though he criticizes the Bush administration for its health-care policies, his main point in "Sicko" isn't political, but moral. He argues that as Americans, it should be our priority to help those who need it most -- the poor and sick. The DVD includes seven additional segments, a gallery of extended interviews and footage from the movie's L.A. premiere. (PG-13; Genius Products, $29.95)

"Sesame Street: Old School, Vol. 2 (1974-'79)" -- Here are more classic episodes from the early days of "Sesame Street." The three-disc set includes the five premiere episodes from the 1974-'79 seasons in their entirety, along with 57 bonus animated and live-action spots from all five seasons. Anyone who grew up on this show will get a nostalgic rush watching bits like the animated "Pinball Number Count" and the "Telephone Rock" Muppet segment. But the set offers more than a trip down memory lane. I was amazed at how fresh and funny these episodes still are (despite the bellbottoms and mutton-chop sideburns on the cast). The show's writing hits the perfect tone for little children without talking down to them. The animated segments come in a pleasant variety of styles and color schemes. And the show's diverse cast and guest stars provide a multicultural viewing experience that never lectures or preaches. Old "Sesame Street" is vastly superior to the bulk of contemporary programs for kids, and I can't wait for my son to be old enough to watch these DVDs. (Genius Products, $39.93)

"Chinatown: Special Collector's Edition" -- Today, Paramount releases the 1974 classic "Chinatown" and its sequel, "The Two Jakes," in new special editions. Let's look at the original movie first. "Chinatown" is one of the best movies ever made, a beautiful film noir look at corruption and evil in 1930s Los Angeles. Director Roman Polanski, writer Robert Towne and lead actor Jack Nicholson work together here like players in a symphony orchestra. Nicholson plays private eye Jake Gittes, who agrees to snap pictures of a city water official suspected of having an affair with a young girl. When the official is murdered, Gittes finds himself ensnared in a web of pain and betrayal. The new DVD looks great, and it comes with three featurettes about the movie, all of them including comments from Polanski, Towne and Nicholson. It's a solid buy, but I couldn't help feeling let down. "Chinatown" is a landmark movie with one of Nicholson's best performances and a script often cited as the Great American Screenplay. Such a film cries out for a commentary and some in-depth analysis. The definitive DVD for this film has yet to be made. (R; Paramount, $14.99)

"The Two Jakes: Special Collector's Edition" -- For this 1990 sequel to "Chinatown," Jack Nicholson moves into the director's chair, working from another script by Robert Towne. It's 11 years later, and Jake Gittes is still doing matrimonial work, though he's richer and pudgier than before. Once again, a simple snoop job ends with someone dead and Gittes trying to find out what really happened. Despite some nice dialogue and Nicholson's usual strong acting, "Jakes" possesses none of the magic of its predecessor. The DVD includes a brief interview with Nicholson in which he's refreshingly candid about the movie and its reception by critics and audiences. (R; Paramount, $14.99)