MIXED MEDIA

A periodic survey of pop-related laser discs, books and videocassettes. Ratings are on a scale of one star (poor) to five stars (a classic). “LOVING YOU”----*** 1/2 Starring Elvis Presley Pioneer Artists laser disc ($34.95)

Deduct three stars from the rating on this 1957 movie if you’re not a Presley fan. The treat here is tied solely to seeing the young Elvis performing some above-average material (including “Teddy Bear” and “Got a Whole Lot of Livin’ to Do”) in a rural Southern setting that somewhat approximates the rocker’s environment in the mid-’50s. The advertising slogan for the movie--”He had the talent. All he needed was a chance”--tells you all you need to know about the corniness of the script. And even though Elvis was already going through the Hollywood sanitation process when he made “Loving You,” he still exudes energy and charm in the musical sequences. The film, directed by Hal Kanter, ranks with “Jailhouse Rock” and “King Creole” as the best displays of Elvis’ natural magnetism available in his non-concert films.