NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY:

“IRON MAN 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle. We all know that billionaire-turned-superhero Tony Stark (Downey, reprising the role that made him a household name once again) can handle himself admirably against almost any adversary, armed as he is with up-to-the-minute technology and a rapid-fire wit. But can he defeat Mickey Rourke? That’s the question of the day in this largely successful sequel, which also introduces Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and even Garry Shandling into the controlled chaos. A superhero franchise-in-the-making that benefits greatly from its own cheeky self-awareness, “2” is a worthy follow-up and, as before, a popcorn movie of the highest order. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:24.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.98; Blu-ray $39.99. 

“BABIES,” documentary. One of the most adorable examples of truth in advertising ever, “Babies” delivers exactly what the title promises: one year in the lives of four infants, each going through fairly typical life experiences in Mongolia, Namibia, Tokyo and San Francisco. Director Thomas Balmes (“A Decent Factory”) captures many moments that should ring pleasantly familiar to most parents: first-time events that are taken for granted but rarely remembered, let alone preserved on film for posterity and entertainment. Poignant, enlightening and, most importantly, incredibly cute, “Babies” is a wonderful document of human life at its most innocent. Rated PG. Running time: 1:19.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.98; Blu-ray $39.98. 

“GET HIM TO THE GREEK,” starring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. A mild-mannered record company intern (Hill, effectively playing against type) agrees to escort notoriously vice-happy British rock star Aldous Snow (Brand, reprising his popular role from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) to a much-ballyhooed performance at L.A.’s Greek Theater. It all goes about as well as one might expect, and soon Hill is unsteadily justifying one expensive act of hedonism after another to his less than understanding boss (hilariously portrayed by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs). Outrageous and completely likable throughout, “Greek” is randy, good-natured fun from start to finish. Rated R. Running time: 1:50.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.98; Blu-ray $39.98. 

NEW ON DVD:

“FAMILY GUY: PARTIAL TERMS OF ENDEARMENT,” animated with the voices of Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein. What exactly does it take to get a “Family Guy” episode banned from the airwaves? Creator MacFarlane is banking on just such curiosity to move copies of this single-episode disc, in which Lois decides to become a surrogate mother for an infertile couple, a selfless gesture that Peter is of course dead-set against.

Suggested retail price: $14.98. 

“THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME CONCERTS,” with Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen. HBO originally broadcast this once-in-a-lifetime musical event, which features 51 complete performances from the likes of such legends as Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Lou Reed, B.B. King and many more. Special features include 16 bonus performances. Not rated, contains mild language. Running time: 5:30.

Suggested retail price: $39.99. 

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

“THE THIN RED LINE,” starring James Caviezel and Sean Penn. Beautiful, unconventional war film from director and reclusive genius Terrence Malick (“Days of Heaven”) is ostensibly about the battle for Guadalcanal Island, but the setting chiefly provides Malick with a suitable venue to ruminate on the nature of life and death and everything in between. He often breaks away from the combat to focus on seemingly unrelated matters, such as the birth of a tropical bird in one memorable sequence. Certain to confuse viewers looking for another “Saving Private Ryan,” but the film casts a contemplative spell that stays with you. Rated R. Running time: 2:50.

Suggested retail price: $39.95. 

VIDEOPORT PICKS:

“THE KILLER INSIDE ME,” starring Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba. Noir master Jim Thompson wrote a number of pulpy yet accomplished crime-fiction novels back in the ’50s, but not until after his death in the ’70s did his work finally begin to garner some real notice, courtesy of some high-profile film adaptations that include “The Grifters” and “After Dark My Sweet.” Adept at eliciting sympathy for even the seamiest of characters, Thompson’s work nonetheless never shies away from the gory details, and director Michael Winterbottom’s “Killer” is all too willing to indulge the author’s darker side.

The consistently surprising Affleck turns in a truly chilling performance as Lou Ford, a Texas deputy whose cordial behavior hides a insatiable drive to kill women with his bare hands. There are scenes in “Killer” that tested even our own seen-it-all staff’s iron stomachs and boundless patience, but for hardier audiences, “Killer” provides an atmospheric and skillfully realized modernization of a bygone genre. Rated R for disturbing brutal violence, aberrant sexual content and language. Running time: 1:49.

Suggested retail price: DVD $19.98; Blu-ray $29.98. 

“PARTY DOWN: SEASON TWO,” starring Adam Scott and Ken Marino. Every now and then, a TV series comes along that’s so good, you just know its days are numbered. It happened with “Arrested Development,” it happened with “Mr. Show,” and now we have “Party Down,” a fall-down funny, endlessly quotable comedy centered on the various disastrous parties attended to by a low-rent catering company incompetently led by Marino (“The State”) and populated with such slackers and malcontents as Martin Starr (“Freaks and Geeks”), Ryan Hansen (“Veronica Mars”) and Jane Lynch (“Glee”).

Managing to fuse the awkward comedy of “The Office” with the gleeful vulgarity of a Judd Apatow flick, then letting that loose within the confined chaotic framework of a “Fawlty Towers” episode, “Party Down” truly has something to offer almost any sense of humor (prudes be forewarned: things get dirty). The funniest show on TV was unfortunately also one of the least viewed, so alas, the second season was also its last. Not rated, contains language, sexual content, nudity, crude humor and drug use. Running time: 4:40.

Suggested retail price: $29.97.