DVD SCANS

Biting wit might not appeal to all tastes

BY HOWARD COHEN

hcohen@MiamiHerald.com

Teeth, a 2007 Sundance Film Festival jury award winner for lead actress Jess Weixler, toys with the idea of ``female empowerment.''

The storyline focuses on Dawn (Weixler), a pretty high school virgin who leads her fellow students in vows of abstinence. This is a good thing because Dawn has a mutant set of teeth between her legs that snap when she's angered and threatened sexually. This happens a lot in Teeth because Dawn's male friends try to challenge that chastity business. She also has a sociopathic half-brother, played by the always creepy John Hensley of Nip/Tuck, whose character gets the kind of nip you won't soon forget.

The gruesomely comic Teeth (Dimension Extreme; $24.95; R) plays off an ancient mythological vagina dentata legend. Dawn becomes a heroine of sorts, we learn in one of the DVD's mediocre supplements, as she ultimately gives in to flexing her freakish powers on cads who cross her.

The movie features a strong lead performance from Weixler, a sense of humor and plenty of gore -- it's like Deep Throat meets Jaws. Would have been interesting to witness the Hollywood executives' meeting when writer/director Mitchell Lichtenstein originally pitched his concept for Teeth.

`MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE'

Mission: Impossible: The Fourth TV Season (CBS DVD/Paramount; $49.99; in stores Tuesday) continues this series' penchant for intricate storytelling, suspense and film-worthy camera work. The notable addition to the fourth season was Leonard Nimoy, who jumped over from the canceled Star Trek, to replace Martin Landau. Nimoy plays Paris, a master of disguise. (Landau was initially approached to play Nimoy's Spock character on the sci-fi classic). No extras on this seven-disc, 26-episode set, but the clear visual transfer and sound is impressive for a show originating in the late '60s.

`BEWITCHED'

The 1969-1970 television season was also notable for another switch on one of its most popular programs. Dick Sargent took over as Darrin Stephens from the departed Dick York on Bewitched: The Complete Sixth Season (Sony Pictures; $39.95). The bland Sargent originally was tapped to play the mortal husband in this hit series but had other obligations, so York won out. In every respect.

Bewitched had a few amusing episodes left in its sixth year, plus the birth of a baby warlock, but by this point some of the bristles had fallen off the broom. Even more damaging than the new Darrin was the loss of addled Aunt Clara, played by Emmy-winner Marion Lorne. When Lorne died, she was replaced by housekeeper Esmeralda (Alice Ghostley), a nervous witch who tends to fade when she gets rattled. The DVD includes pointless mini episodes of The Partridge Family and I Dream of Jeannie as extras.