Out on DVD: Robots, movie stars, killer rabbits and a gay musical genius

Four extraordinary new DVDs hit stores on November 18, and they've all got gay appeal. Find out more after the jump!

Probably the biggest release of the day is Disney/Pixar's Wall-E, one of the year's most popular and acclaimed films. It's a touching love story (between robots) that succeeds in being a nearly-silent movie for the first hour or so, which in itself is an extraordinary achievement. But Wall-E also has the rare combination of smarts and gorgeous character design that's become a Pixar trademark.

Best of all for gay viewers, Wall-E expresses his yearning for love and companionship by repeatedly watching the "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" number from Hello, Dolly! which probably makes him the first showtunes-obsessed character in mainstream animation.

The most specifically gay DVD coming out today is the festival-fave documentary Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell. You may have never heard of Russell, but you won't forget him after seeing this movie. His career as a musician was amazingly eclectic: his compositions included avant-garde classical and seminal disco (he's the man behind "Is It All Over My Face") in addition to his talents as a vocalist and cellist. Expand your musical and cinematic repertoire with this compelling and moving life story.

Monty Python had just one gay member — the late, great Graham Chapman (above) — but their penchant for drag and for skewering the establishment makes them a must-see for queer comedy lovers. And Python fanatics get a rich bounty with the Monty Python Holy Trinity, a six-disc box set that includes special editions of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. No collection should be without these essential, irreverent gems.

While it might not be at Python level, Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder was one of this year's most outrageous and controversial comedies. A farce about spoiled film star prima donnas fighting a real war against drug dealers while they think they're on a movie set, the film made mirth out of Hollywood's treatment of race and special needs, drug addiction and the show business closet.

And lest we forget, it's the time of year to start shopping for things that fit neatly inside a stocking, so keep any of these great titles in mind for your giftees.