I am not sure Adobe Elements can do all the tricks that you want to do, so I would pass on that. After all, most Elements programs from Adobe are really really really really stripped down versions. I would also avoid Vegas because it is not a program that the professional community uses… and I have used it before and I was far from impressed at either its features or its ease of use.

I would suggest, on the PC side, either Adobe Premeire Pro, which will have all the features you mentioned, or perhaps Avid Xpress if you can track it down. Premeire Pro will have a less steep learning curve, and it does have a bit of respect for itself in the pro community. Avid, even Avid Xpress, has a steeper learning curve… but it is highly useful.

If you ever wanted to go the Mac route, which is a popular route for many people who want to do videos for a living, you can look at Final Cut Pro, which again will do everything you want, or Avid on the Mac. There is also supposed to be a release of Premeire Pro on the Mac as well.

Either way, don’t do this stuff with Windows Movie Maker. Editing with WMM is so counterproductive and limited that it will make you want to stab out a newborn baby kitten’s eye with a hot spork.