Category Archives: Video Verdict

Ben Barnes is Prince Caspian.

There’s a particularly large crop of new DVDs hitting stores this week, and they range from a family sports dramedy to a hard-hitting, R-rated action flick.

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Will Smith is the title character in "Hancock."

Two family films, a science-fiction comedy and the story of an unusual superhero lead this week’s DVD crop. Unfortunately, the quality of the movies is as varied as their subject matter.

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The title character in "WALL-E."

It’s a great week for home video, as most of the major releases are outstanding. Children should be particularly excited because the Pixar hit “WALL-E” is finally available on DVD.

WALL-E
3 1/2 stars (out of four)
Rated G
Disney
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

It takes a brave director to make a silent film in the 21st century, but Andrew Stanton (“A Bug’s Life,” “Finding Nemo”) is just the guy to do it.

“WALL-E” is not, of course, a silent film in the traditional sense because it uses music and sound effects to great consequence. Still, dialog is so limited that the picture carries the spirit of a silent, telling 90 percent of its story visually.

The movie is set in the distant future where the title character is an ancient, rusted-out robot who has spent countless years trying to clean up a trash-covered planet Earth. Humans have long since abandoned the planet, having destroyed it with over-consumption. Because WALL-E is lonely, he is ecstatic when a sleek modern robot named EVE touches down on Earth.

After a shaky beginning, WALL-E and EVE start to pal around. But just when it looks like they’re destined for love, EVE is thrown into a robot coma and recalled to her mother ship. The broken-hearted WALL-E decides to hitch a ride with her in hopes of reviving their relationship.

As with all Pixar movies, the animation in “WALL-E” is astounding. But the movie is more than a feast for the eyes. The characters are wonderful, the story is sweet, and the overall execution is dynamite. Stanton and company are to be congratulated for crafting a movie that combines the best of modern technology with the visual grace of America’s silent classics.

“WALL-E” is available in several different packages, including a single-disc release and a 3-disc special edition. Extra features vary.

Tropic Thunder
3 stars
Available in rated and unrated versions. The theatrical cut is rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material
DreamWorks
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

“Tropic Thunder” is vicious, crude and often offensive, but it’s also really funny.

Ben Stiller stars as Tugg Speedman, an aging action hero trying to gain artistic clout by starring in a Vietnam War movie based on real events. He’s joined by other popular actors, including Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and rapper-turned-actor Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson). Sadly, the group is in no way prepared to make an emotionally resonant movie.

So, director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) decides to chopper his cast into the middle of the Vietnamese jungle and force it to hike out while he grabs footage, the idea being that the realism will raise the stakes. Alas, the plan is derailed when Cockburn is taken out of the picture and the actors discover that the jungle is controlled by drug-running militants.

The comedy in “Tropic Thunder” is politically incorrect, and the gags poke fun at everyone from self-absorbed celebrities to the mentally impaired. There are even dicey racial gags, most centered on Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Lazarus, a white actor playing a black man. While the touchy subject matter could offend some viewers, those who realize it’s all in good fun will find themselves immersed in an enjoyable and consistently funny movie.

The R-rated version of the film is available on a single-disc release, and the unrated director’s cut is available on a two-disc edition. Extra features vary.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
2 1/2 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature material and sensuality
Warner Brothers
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

Picking up where the original “Sisterhood” left off, this sequel relates new adventures from friends Carmen (America Ferrera), Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), Lena (Alexis Bledel) and Bridget (Blake Lively). All four pals are now attending prestigious colleges, and they get together just briefly before going their separate ways during summer vacation.

Tibby has to complete a class in New York, Bridget is involved in an archeological dig in Turkey, Lena is studying in a summer art program, and Carmen is working for a theater company in Vermont. To stay in touch, the girls agree to once again trade off wearing a pair of jeans that magically fit each one of them perfectly.

“Sisterhood 2” has a separate story arc for each of the main characters, plus the underlying theme that time and responsibilities are slowly pulling them apart. Because the cast is first-rate, the movie has some beautiful moments, including scenes where Carmen’s mother is giving birth to a new child and Lena must decide whether the relationship with her Greek boyfriend Kostas (Michael Rady) can work.

Alas, there are so many storylines — several of them extremely melodramatic — that the picture starts to take on the tone of a soap opera. This doesn’t kill it, but it does slow the pacing and make it less appealing than the original “Sisterhood.”

The movie is available in widescreen and full-screen versions. Extra features include extra scenes, a gag reel and a short about the inspiration for the movie’s final scene.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
3 1/2 stars
Rated R for drug and sexual content, language and some nudity
Magnolia Home Entertainment
Available Tuesday on DVD

Director Alex Gibney, who last year won an Oscar for “Taxi to the Dark Side,” an examination of the U.S. military’s torture practices, is back with a documentary about the life of journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

“Gonzo” touches on Thompson’s childhood, but it mostly focuses on his career accomplishments, including his acclaimed books “Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72.”

Gibney tells Thompson’s tale with archival footage, interviews with the journalist’s friends and acquaintances, and a hefty dose of readings from his work. Johnny Depp, who played Thompson in the “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” movie, handles the readings with a wonderful Thompson-esque delivery.

During his lifetime, Thompson was known as much for his gun-toting, hard-drinking behavior as his stellar writing, and “Gonzo” considers his personal and professional lives. At two hours, “Gonzo” is hardly a complete portrait, but it is a nice primer.

DVD extras include deleted scenes, extended interviews, a Thompson tribute, photo galleries, drawings by Ralph Steadman and a commentary by Gibney.

ALSO OUT TUESDAY

The Complete “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” Collector’s Edition: More than 36 hours of Monty Python sketch comedy collected on 21 discs. This set includes all four seasons of the “Flying Circus” television series, two discs filled with live performances, plus two documentaries never before released in America.

“Hannah Montana” — The Complete First Season: Miley Cyrus stars as a 14-year-old who is a student by day and pop star by night in this Disney Channel series. Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mitchell Musso and Moises Arias also star. Big fans may want to check out The Hannah Montana DVD Game, a separate release featuring 11 interactive games controlled by a DVD remote.

“Star Trek” the Original Series — Season Three Remastered: All 24 episodes from the third season of the groundbreaking science-fiction series featuring Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and the rest of the Starship Enterprise crew. This release features remastered versions of each episode, complete with new computer-generated special effects.

Griffith Masterworks 2: Five-disc set featuring six of director D.W. Griffith’s movies: “Edgar Allen Poe (1909), “The Avenging Conscience” (1914), “Way Down East” (1920), “Sally of the Sawdust” (1925), “Abraham Lincoln” (1930) and “The Struggle” (1931). Also included is “Father of Film,” a 156-minute Griffith documentary.

The Derek Jarman Collection: Three films — “Sebastiane,” “The Tempest” and “War Requiem” — by the late English director Derek Jarman. “Sebastiane” is noteworthy as Jarman’s first feature-length movie and “War Requiem” includes the final screen appearance by Sir Laurence Olivier. The collection also features “Derek,” a 76-minute documentary about the filmmaker.

“Fanfan la Tulipe”: The Criterion Collection is serving up a restored digital transfer of the 1952 French adventure about a peasant (Gerard Philipe) who joins the army to avoid a shotgun wedding. Gina Lollobrigida also stars. The movie is presented in French with English subtitles, and the DVD includes an optional English-dubbed soundtrack.

“The Universe” — The Complete Season One: A&E Home Video is releasing the first season of this popular series about the cosmos on Blu-ray. Along with the series, this set includes the documentary “Beyond the Big Bang.”

Po completes his training and receives the Dragon Scroll in "Kung Fu Panda."

Children and fantasy fans shouldn’t have trouble finding a movie this week because DVD releases include the sequel to “Hellboy,” a new “Star Wars” adventure and a delightful animated comedy from DreamWorks.

Kung Fu Panda
3 1/2 stars (out of four)
Rated PG for sequences of martial arts action
DreamWorks
Available now on DVD and Blu-ray

DreamWorks Animation has another winner in “Kung Fu Panda,” a creative feature about Po, an overweight panda bear who dreams of becoming a martial arts hero.

He gets his chance when Master Oogway, the most famous martial artist in his land, announces that Po is destined to become the Dragon Warrior, a fierce fighter with the power to defeat an evil and feared leopard named Tai Lung. Po’s anointment doesn’t sit well Master Oogway’s protégé, Master Shifu, who can’t imagine turning Po into a hero. Shifu would rather see one of his long-time students — known collectively as the Furious Five — become Dragon Warrior.

In order for the lowly Po to fulfill his destiny, he must overcome not only the prejudice of others but his own self doubt.

“Kung Fu Panda” is wonderfully realized, with every animal character rendered in glorious detail. While this makes the movie great to look at, it’s the clever storytelling and fantastic voice cast that really set it apart. Comedian Jack Black voices Po, infusing him with an irresistible, manic energy. Other big-name voicers include Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu and Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu as members of the Furious Five.

The movie is available by itself or in a two-pack with the short film “Secrets of the Furious Five.” The latter is a cute, 24-minute picture in which Po explains how members of the Furious Five got their starts.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
3 stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence and some
language
Universal
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

Writer-director Guillermo del Toro’s second stab at the Hellboy franchise is a considerable improvement over his first. This time, he’s delivered a comic book movie that is fast-paced, filled with great special effects and often quite funny.

The plot has Hellboy, a powerful demon who fights for America under the auspices of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, attempting to stop the spiritual world from starting a war on humanity. The leader of the spiritual rebellion is Prince Nuada (Luke Gross), a powerful warrior who is angry that his father agreed to a truce with humanity eons before.

Convinced that his kind should rule the world, Nuada schemes to take control of a mechanical army that is said to be indestructible. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) does his best to foil Nuada’s plans with the help of other heroes possessing special abilities, most notably his fiery girlfriend, Liz (Selma Blair), and the amphibian Abe Sapien (Doug Jones).

“Golden Army” is heavy on action, and most of the sequences are beautifully staged, making the film terrific eye candy.

It is available on single-disc releases and on a three-disc special edition. Extra features vary.

This Christmas
2 stars
Rated PG-13 for comic sexual content and some violence
Sony Pictures
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

Why do people watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” year after year after year? Because new holiday classics are hard to come by. Writer-director Preston A. Whitmore II did his best to create one with “This Christmas” but, like most of his filmmaking peers, he came up short.

“This Christmas” takes a hard look at the Whitfield family, which is gathering together for the holidays for the first time in years. The matriarch is Ma’Dere (Loretta Devine), a traditional mother who insists that her live-in boyfriend, Joe (Delroy Lindo), pretend that he has his own place when the kids are around.

While Ma’Dere puts on her holiday charade, her children deal with their own issues. Her oldest daughter (Regina King) is trying to convince everyone to sell the family business. A son (Idris Elba) is being chased by small-time thugs. Another son (Chris Brown) is hiding his desire to become a full-time musician.

Believe it or not, that’s just the half of it, and that’s the problem with “This Christmas.” There are so many characters and subplots that it is difficult to invest in any of them, which is too bad because the cast is very good.

DVD extras include deleted and extended scenes, a filmmakers’ commentary, a making-of feature and a music video featuring Brown.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
3 stars (out of four)
Rated PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking
Warner Brothers
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

Like Cartoon Network’s “Clone Wars” television series, the action in this animated feature is set between the live-action “Star Wars” films “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.”

When Jabba the Hutt’s son is kidnapped, Jedi knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are asked to rescue the infant in an effort to garner favor with Jabba, who controls crucial shipping routes. The mission isn’t simple because the renegade count Dooku and his apprentice Ventress are working to assure their failure. Also, Anakin must watch over his new Padawan learner Ahsoka.

“Clone Wars” has a lighter tone than the live-action movies, and that makes it kid appropriate, but it is also well-plotted enough for adults to enjoy. The stylized animation is a cross between anime and more traditional computer-generated imagery, but it isn’t as detailed as in most modern theatrical releases. Still, the look is generally appealing, and the many action sequences are beautifully choreographed.

All in all, “Clone Wars” is an enjoyable adventure film that “Star Wars” junkies will do well to check out.

The movie is available on a single-disc release and a two-disc special edition. Extra features vary.

ALSO OUT TUESDAY

“Beer for My Horses”: Country singer Toby Keith co-wrote this adventure comedy with comedian Rodney Carrington. It was inspired by one of Keith’s songs, and he and Carrington star as deputies who defy orders in hopes of saving a friend who was kidnapped by drug dealers.

Walt Disney Treasures: For years, Buena Vista Home Entertainment has been treating fans to vintage cartoons and television shows via its Disney Treasures releases. The latest are “The Chronological Donald: Volume Four,” “The Mickey Mouse Club Presents Annette” and “Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.” The Donald Duck set includes 31 of the popular character’s cartoons released between 1951 and 1961. “Annette” collects 20 episodes of Annette Funicello’s daily TV series about a country girl who moves to the suburbs to live with her rich aunt and uncle. Lastly, “Dr. Syn” features all three installments of the 1960s Disney miniseries about a parson with a heroic alter ego.

“The Boys in the Band”: Director William Friedkin’s 1970 relationship drama about gay men who gather for a birthday party but experience something more outrageous was restored just for this DVD. The film is considered a groundbreaking piece of gay cinema, and it stars Leonard Frey, Kenneth Nelson, Peter White, Laurence Luckinbill and Cliff Gorman.

“Scrubs” — Season Seven: The seventh season of this medical comedy about employees of Sacred Heart teaching hospital was abbreviated by the Hollywood writers’ strike, but 11 episodes still made it on air. This two-disc set has them all.

“Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage”: Direct-to-DVD film based on painter Thomas Kinkade’s life. The film tells the story of a young Kinkade (Jared Padalecki) who returns from college to find that his mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is in danger of losing her home. He is inspired to paint a mural and discovers his calling while infusing others with the Christmas spirit.

“7th Heaven” — The Seventh Season: All 22 episodes from the seventh season of this long-running family drama about a Protestant minister and his family.

“The Streets of San Francisco” — Season 2, Volume 2: Twelve episodes of the classic police drama centered on investigators Mike Stone (Karl Malden) and Steve Keller (Michael Douglas).

“Studio One” Anthology: Seventeen episodes of “Studio One,” which aired teleplays in the 1940s and 1950s. Included are presentations of “June Moon” with Jack Lemmon and Eva Marie Saint, “Twelve Angry Men” with Robert Cummings, “1984” with Eddie Albert and Lorne Greene, and Julius Caesar with Theodore Bikel.

“Son of the Beach” — Volume 2: The action — and comedy — centers on a squad of lifeguards known as Shore Patrol 30. Produced by Howard Stern, “Son of the Beach” is essentially a “Bay Watch” parody. This set includes unaired episodes from season two along with every regular episode of season three.

Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell in

The DVD world paused to catch it’s breath this week, as there is only one major theatrical release making its way onto video. But, as usual, we’ve got plenty of television shows, reissues and direct-to-DVD titles to take up the slack.

Get Smart
2 stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language
Warner Brothers
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-Ray

Big screen adaptations of television shows have become commonplace at the multiplex, and this is the latest. Like the 1960s television show that it’s based on, “Get Smart” follows the adventures of Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell), a well meaning but often incompetent secret agent.

On his first assignment, Max is paired with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), a veteran operative who reluctantly takes him under her wing. As they work together, Max’s technique improves and 99 begins to warm up to him. Then, another spy calls Max’s loyalty into question, putting his career and America in danger.

Carell and Hathaway are talented actors and their character readings are solid. Unfortunately, the “Get Smart” script isn’t nearly as entertaining as they are. The pacing is slow and good gags are intermittent, leaving viewers with a picture that is more ponderous than funny.

The film is available in single-disc versions and a two-disc special edition. Extra features vary.

 
Futurama: Bender’s Game
3 stars
Unrated
20th Century Fox
Available Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray

“Futurama,” brainchild of “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, has endured one of the strangest runs in television history. Initially, the animated show aired on Fox from 1999 to 2003. Then, production ceased but reruns were broadcast on Cartoon Network. Fast forward to 2007 when “Futurama” was reborn.

The original creative team gathered with the idea of making four direct-to-DVD movies that could be split into individual episodes and aired on Comedy Central. The latest — and third — of those films is “Bender’s Game,” an homage to the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

For folks who don’t know “Futurama,” a primer. The animated series is set in the 31st century, and it revolves around the adventures of Philip J. Fry, a 21st century man who made it to the future after being cryogenically frozen. He and his friends, including a mutant named Leela and testy robot named Bender, work for a delivery company owned by eccentric professor Hubert J. Farnsworth.

In “Bender’s Game,” the title character discovers he has an imagination and embraces it by playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Alas, Bender uses his imagination too frequently and eventually goes mad. Meanwhile, Professor Farnsworth enlists his employees’ help in bringing a greedy fuel executive down a notch.

The two stories intertwine when Bender magically transports everyone into an alternate dimension where they are forced to play out an adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings.” It sounds bizarre because it is. But it’s also a lot of fun.

“Bender’s Game” is filled with pop culture references and witty asides that are often more entertaining than the overall story. Although the show is animated, the language and content are targeted at adults. And those who like science fiction and sharply scripted humor should find it a pleasant distraction.

DVD extras include an audio commentary by the filmmakers, a storyboard animatic, a bit on Dungeons & Dragons and deleted scenes.

 
Reaper: Season One
3 1/2 stars
Unrated
Lionsgate
Available Tuesday on DVD

Few television shows are as good out of the box as “Reaper,” a supernatural dramedy that blends “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”-style action and special effects with a significant helping of laughs.

Bret Harrison plays Sam, a lowly box store employee who is shocked to discover that his parents sold his soul to Satan (Ray Wise). As if that’s not bad enough, he also learns he must work for the Devil as a bounty hunter … or suffer unpleasant consequences.

Most episodes involve Sam and his wacky friends — the uber-slacker “Sock” (Tyler Labine) and the more conservative Ben (Rick Gonzalez) — capturing demons who have escaped from Hell. This setup gives individual episodes a strong beginning, middle and end, but the screenwriters also include a variety of ongoing stories.

The most important side plot involves Sam’s quest to find a way out of his devilish contract. Also in play is his desire for a romantic relationship with his friend Andi (Missy Peregrym); a contentious relationship with his boss, Ted (Donavon Stinson); and a plot by friendly demons to unseat Satan.

Too often, television series — even good ones — start with poor character development, but the “Reaper” ensemble created layered and well-fleshed-out characters at episode one. Wise is particularly winning as the Devil, who effortlessly swings from genial to menacing.

This five-disc set includes all 18 season-one episodes plus extra features including audio commentaries, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

  
ALSO OUT TUESDAY

“Return to Sleepaway Camp”: This direct-to-DVD addition to the “Sleepaway Camp” franchise is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original, 1983 film. The story centers on campers at rural Camp Manabe who experience a series of bizarre accidents. The tragedy recalls the bloodbath that took place years before at nearby camp Arawak, the setting for the original picture.

“Spin City” — Season One: It’s hard to believe this television sitcom is just now getting a DVD release, but better late than never. Michael J. Fox stars as Mike Flaherty, the workaholic deputy mayor of New York City. Along with an oddball cast of cohorts, he keeps the city government churning. Barry Bostwick, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck, Michael Boatman, Connie Britton and Alexander Chaplin also star.

“Get Smart” — The Complete Series Gift Set: If Steve Carell’s “Get Smart” remake stirs nostalgia for the television series, this 25-disc set should more than sate your appetite. It includes all 138 episodes of the original series with Don Adams as secret agent Maxwell Smart and Barbara Feldon as the voluptuous Agent 99.

“Star Wars” — The Prequel Trilogy: This set offers the opportunity to purchase “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” in a boxed set. Each movie was already available ala carte, so there’s no new content.

“Shrek the Halls”: Set after “Shrek the Third,” this half-hour animated adventure plugs the Shrek characters into a holiday setting.

The Bourne Trilogy: As spy thrillers go, Matt Damon’s outings as amnesiac secret agent Jason Bourne are top-notch. This set includes the franchise’s original film — “The Bourne Identity” — plus both sequels, “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

The Wild Wild West — The Complete Series: Fans of the 1960s science fiction Western can own all four seasons thanks to this 27-disc gift set. The show follows the adventures of secret service agents James West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin), who traveled in a high-tech train protecting President Ulysses S. Grant and other American interests.

The Gregory Peck Film Collection: A six-disc set from Universal featuring some of Peck’s best-known films. Included are “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Cape Fear,” “Arabesque,” “Mirage,” “Captain Newman, M.D.” and “The World in His Arms.”

Planet of the Apes — 40th Anniversary Collection: All five of Charlton Heston’s “Planet of the Apes” movies are available on Blu-ray for the first time. They can be purchased collectively through this set or individually.

A Christmas Story — Ultimate Collector’s Edition: Repackaging of the much-loved holiday movie about a 1940s boy who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film has been available on DVD for years, but this version includes a variety of memorabilia. The film is also being released on Blu-ray for the first time.

Batman — The Complete Animated Series: What’s with all the huge, multi-disc sets? We’re heading into the holiday season, meaning distributors are trotting out as many high-end gift ideas as possible. For fans of the Dark Knight, this is a good one. “Batman the Animated Series” is a superbly made superhero cartoon, and this collection includes every episode.

(Left to right) Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem in "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

It’s an outstanding week for home video, particularly when it comes to family viewing. Not only has Disney released a new direct-to-DVD title, but we got a great family film from Abigail Breslin and an enjoyable remake of a science-fiction classic.

 
Journey to the Center of the Earth
3 stars (out of four)
Rated PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments
New Line Cinema
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray

As science-fiction films go, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” places the emphasis squarely on fiction, and that’s OK.

Anyone willing to buy into the concept of dinosaurs living within the Earth’s core shouldn’t much care that the plotting is ridiculous. The basic story — introduced in Jules Verne’s novel — has always been nutty, yet it’s still classic. In this version of the tale, Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, a scientist obsessed with finding his long-missing brother, Max.

Max believed the stories in Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” novel were based on fact, and he failed to return from an expedition to prove such. So, Trevor decides to embark on a similar adventure in hopes of finding Max and making scientific history.

Along with Max’s young son, Sean (Josh Hutcherson), and a mountain guide named Hannah (Anita Briem), Trevor begins an expedition in Iceland. In short order, the three explorers find themselves falling deep into the Earth’s core and learning that the fanciful stories in Verne’s novel are indeed true.

The storytelling is so silly that it can’t be taken seriously, but it’s also loads of fun. What’s more, the PG-rated action is intense enough to be interesting but not so overwhelming that it will scare most youngsters. That makes “Journey” a great movie for young families.

The DVD releases include 2-D and 3-D versions of the film, and the 3-D effects are great.

DVD extras include a commentary by Fraser and Brevig, a short feature on Hutcherson, and historical theories about our planet’s core.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
3 ½ stars
Rated G
New Line Cinema
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
This wonderful feature is oh so timely in our trying economic times. Born from the American Girl doll and book franchise, the movie tells the story of Kit (Abigail Breslin), a 10-year-old living through the Great Depression in Cincinnati.

When Kit’s father (Chris O’Donnell) loses his car dealership, forcing him to leave home and look for work in Chicago, it turns life upside down. Doing whatever she can to keep their home, Kit’s kindly mother (Julia Ormond) takes in boarders who become part of the extended family.

The movie has the warm glow and conservative spirit of a picture made in the 1940s or 1950s, but the technical prowess of a modern effort. That’s a winning combination, and G rated films like this are too rare.

DVD extras are limited to trailers for other “American Girl” products and a handful of features available only to those with a computer DVD drive and internet connection.

 
Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection
4 stars
Unrated
Universal
Available on: DVD
The average movie fan may not be interested in all 28 films that Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made for Universal, but this set is a collector’s dream. It comes in an attractive cardboard chest packed with 15 discs containing the movies and numerous bonus features.

There are far too many titles to review individually, but most folks already know if they like Abbott and Costello. And fans will be in nirvana with this collection.

Of particular note this time of year are the titles “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948), “Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer, Boris Karloff” (1949), “Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man” (1951), “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1953) and “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy” (1955). As part of an early Halloween celebration, I watched “Frankenstein” with my 4- and 7-year-old sons, and it is amazing how well the storytelling holds up. The film is filled with slapstick moments, and features some terrific vintage performances, making it an outstanding choice for family viewing.

Abbott and Costello were about more than horror-comedies, so it’s important to note that the set also includes “In the Navy” (1941), “Buck Privates” (1941), “In Society” (1944), “Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Cops” (1955), and many more.

 
Tinker Bell
2 ½ stars
Rated G
Disney
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Everyone knows the story of Tinker Bell’s friendship with Peter Pan, but Tink’s origination was always a mystery … until now.

This direct-to-DVD title reveals where the famous Disney fairy came from, and it packs a valuable message about the need for varied talents and personalities in our world. Although the storytelling isn’t as layered as in most of Disney’s theatrical releases, it is strong enough to keep the interest of children.

“Tinker Bell” is also surprisingly beautiful for a direct-to-video title. The imagery is stunning throughout, surpassing the animation seen even in a handful of big screen features.

DVD extras include a guide to the fairy realm, a feature on how the filmmakers created it for screen, deleted scenes and a new music video.

 
Zombie Strippers
1 ½ stars
Available in an unrated version and the theatrical cut, which was rated R for strong violence and gore, sexuality/nudity and language
Sony Pictures
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Patterned after the low-budget horror-sexploitation films that were rampant in the 1970s, “Zombie Strippers” tells of a renegade zombie who escapes extermination to spread his curse to a Nebraska strip club.

When the joint’s top stripper (former porn star Jenna Jameson) gets massacred on stage, it looks like bad news for the club owner, Ian (Robert Englund). But when she mysteriously reanimates and takes the stage again, it becomes clear that men find zombie strippers even hotter than regular gals. In fact, the live nude girls have difficulty competing with the undead, so some of them willingly convert.

As the title suggests, there is plenty of nudity and an equal amount of over-the-top gore. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many laughs as the goofy premise would suggest.

It’s fairly clear that writer-director Jay Lee wanted “Zombie Strippers” to be like “Planet Terror,” the excellent B-movie homage director Robert Rodriguez delivered last year. The potential was there but the execution isn’t witty or loose enough to merit a recommendation … even at Halloween.

Special DVD features include two making-of features, deleted scenes, and a commentary with Jameson, Englund, Medina and director Jay Lee.

 
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Hell Ride”: Executive producer Quentin Tarantino teamed with writer-director Larry Bishop to make this homage to the motorcycle flicks of the 1960s and ’70s. Dennis Hopper, Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones star as bikers looking for vengeance against a rival motorcycle gang that killed one of their loved ones.

“Animal House” — 30th Anniversary Edition Gift Set: This memorable 1978 comedy about college kids behaving badly has achieved cult status. It’s been released on DVD numerous times before, but this two-disc set — packaged in a frat house-shaped box — includes the film, a new documentary about it and exclusive Scene-It games. John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom and Tom Hulce star.

“The Polar Express” 3-D: It may be bad form to start talking Christmas before the Halloween decorations are down, but there’s no denying the quality of this 2004 animated picture about kids who take a magical ride to the North Pole. This release marks the first time the film has been available on Blu-ray, and both regular and Blu-ray editions come with special glasses and the option of 3-D viewing.

“Mystery Science Theater 3000” — 20th Anniversary Edition: In this bizarre television series, an oddball collection of supposed space travelers provide humorous commentary for terrible B-movies. The set includes four of the show’s most-requested episodes plus a collection of bonus content.

“Dale Earnhardt 10 Greatest Wins”: NASCAR fans can relive some of the late driver’s greatest moments on the track with this five-disc collection. Featured races are the 1984 Talladega 500, the 1987 Winston, the 1989 Southern 500, the 1993 Coca-Cola 600, the 1995 Busch Clash, the 1995 Brickyard 400, the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300, the 1998 Daytona 500, the 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 and the 2000 Winston 500.

Complete television series sets: As studios gear up for the holidays, they’re trotting out an increasing number of large, multi-disc sets designed for gift giving. This is a particularly busy week, as complete collections of more than five television series are hitting stores. The shows range from relatively new — “The 4400” — to old-time classics — “The Little Rascals,” “The Flintstones,” “Sanford and Son.” And, of course, there are a couple that fall in between — “Newsradio” and “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.” All of these sets have suggested retail prices exceeding $50, but you get a lot of viewing for the money.

Forrest Hartman is a film critic for the Reno Gazette-Journal, KTVN-TV (Reno), Alice Radio (Reno), the Free Daily Observer (Hotchkiss, CO) and New Jersey Voice. Contact him at forrest@forresthartman.com.