POP MUSIC : MIXED MEDIA : ** 1/2 “PICTURE SHOW” The Cure, Elektracq Video ($19.98) : <i> Items in this periodic survey of pop-related books, videocassettes and laser discs are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic). </i>

Cure-ator Robert Smith having fun? That rare sight alone may be worth the price of this collection of stylish, Tim Pope-directed music videos, highlighted by the absurd soul routines of “Why Can’t I Be You?” (an extended version) and “Hot Hot Hot!!!” and the silly, ocean-floor frolics of “Close to Me.” But it’s not enough, as the rest of the videos are merely the Cure’s Greatest Mopes: Smith moping in a Mediterranean villa, moping in a cave, moping through a fevered nightmare, and so on. And the amateurish video verite segments of life on the road only stretch out the solipsistic brooding.