NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“THE FIGHTER,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. Fact-based tale of “Irish” Micky Ward (Wahlberg), a working-class Lowell, Mass., welterweight who briefly made it big in the mid-’80s with the occasional help of his troubled brother (Oscar-winner Bale), a fellow former boxer whose dreams and ambition have given way to drug abuse. Everybody loves a good underdog movie, and director David O. Russell tones down his experimental tendencies to deliver a solid, no-frills drama with terrific performances across the board. Rated R. Running time: 1:55.

Additional Photos

Mark Wahlberg portrays working-class Lowell, Mass., boxer "Irish" Micky Ward in the fact-based drama "The Fighter." Courtesy photo

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.99; Blu-ray $39.99.

“HEREAFTER,” starring Matt Damon and Bryce Dallas Howard. Never one to get comfortable in any one genre as a filmmaker, Clint Eastwood gets a bit metaphysical in this three-way character study, in which three strangers who’ve brushed elbows with death cross paths: an American with psychic powers (Damon), a French journalist who survives a tsunami (Cecile De France) and a young British boy who loses his twin brother (newcomer Frankie McLaren). An interesting and thought-provoking departure for Eastwood. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:09.

Suggested retail price: DVD $28.98; Blu-ray $35.99.

“THE SWITCH,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Underrated little rom-com finds Aniston forced to reevaluate much of her current life upon finding out that her best friend (Bateman) hijacked her pregnancy by replacing the sperm sample she originally selected with his own. Neither a critical nor an audience favorite, “The Switch” isn’t afraid to tread some twisted territory, and viewers averse to the typical formulaic romantic comedies just might find this to be a notable exception to the rule. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:41.

Suggested retail price: DVD $29.95; Blu-ray $39.99.

“THE WILDEST DREAM: CONQUEST OF EVEREST,” documentary. Unfailingly fascinating documentary relays the mysterious tale of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, a pair of adventurous souls who attempted to climb Everest back in 1924 and were never seen again until 1999, when fellow climber Conrad Anker discovered Mallory’s frozen corpse on the formidable mountain. From there, Anker takes it upon himself to try to conquer Everest using the same now-outdated equipment that Mallory had at his disposal. Rated PG. Running time: 1:34.

Suggested retail price: DVD $19.99; Blu-ray $28.99. 

NEW ON DVD

“A SHINE OF RAINBOWS,” starring Connie Nielsen and Aidan Quinn. Old-fashioned family entertainment in which plucky Irish orphan Tomas (John Bell) gets to know his new parents, one apprehensive and withdrawn (Quinn) and the other whimsical and supportive (Nielsen). Beautiful scenery, a winning cast and a refreshing earnestness combine to result in one of the best live-action family films to come around in some time. Rated PG. Running time: 1:41.

Suggested retail price: $22.98. 

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY,” starring Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate. Still the most successful and purely funny vehicle for Ferrell’s oblivious man-child character, “Anchorman” charts the tacky highs and pathetic lows of a ’70s-era anchorman as he butts heads with unwelcome new co-anchor Veronica Corningstone (Applegate) and struts his stuff with fellow macho men Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell as the world’s least intelligent weatherman. Stay classy, San Diego! Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:34.

Suggested retail price: $24.99.

“YI YI,” starring Nianzhen Wu and Elaine Jin. Director Edward Yang’s beautiful and brilliant 2000 family drama is so believable, it almost feels like true eavesdropping. When a family in Taipei brings their comatose grandmother into their home, her unresponsive presence becomes an unwitting therapist when each family member finds themselves talking at length to her about their various problems. Not rated, contains language and thematic material. Running time: 2:53.

Suggested retail price: $39.95. 

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS,” starring Negar Shaghaghi and Ashkan Koshanejad. Here in the States, the music and lifestyle that encompasses rock ‘n’ roll has long since forfeited its once-rebellious attitude following years of sanitized wannabes and corporate takeovers. In Iran, rocking out, whether on stage or in the comfort of your bedroom, is still one of the ultimate ways to stick it to the man, largely because it’s flat-out against the law. Enter Negar and Ashkan, playing themselves as the lead musicians behind The Persian Cats, a talented band with a sound reminiscent of Modest Mouse and a desire to play at a high-profile concert in London, provided they can manage to score a visa that would enable them to actually leave Tehran. Not rated, contains language. Running time: 1:46.

Suggested retail price: $24.98.

“WASTE LAND,” documentary. From always-fascinating documentarian Lucy Walker comes another look at a neglected but fascinating demographic: the “citizens” of the notorious Jardim Gramacho, arguably the largest pile of garbage in the world, located just outside Rio de Janeiro. Mining the vast piles of refuse for whatever bits of recyclable material they can find, a considerable community of workers base their meager but sustaining livelihood on the monolith of trash. Not rated, nothing objectionable. Running time: 1:39.

Suggested retail price: $29.95.

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