NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU,” starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Enjoyably dizzying take on an old Philip K. Dick short story finds disgraced young politician Damon encountering and swiftly falling for ballerina Blunt, only to find their budding flirtation doesn’t mesh with the grand plans of the titular organization, a shady, nattily dressed group that happens to oversee humanity in general, taking care to eliminate any elements that don’t fit their mysterious design. First-time director George Nolfi piles on the style and keeps the pace hectic, resulting in a sleek and often quite funny puzzler with more than a few surprises up its expertly tailored sleeve. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:46.

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

“DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES,” starring Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick. Sequel to the adaptation of the mega-popular series of young adult books by Jeff Kinney, in which the ever put-upon Greg (Gordon, “The Brothers Bloom”) is forced to spend more time with his troublesome older brother, Rodrick (Bostick, “Saw VI”). The spazzy irreverence of its source material is in full swing in this family comedy, which in its better moments may remind viewers of “Freaks and Geeks.” As before, the show is very nearly stolen entirely by the consistently funny antics of Robert Capron (“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”) as Greg’s even dorkier and magic-obsessed pal. Rated PG. Running time: 1:39.

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

“THE EAGLE,” starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. Sincere yet somewhat underwhelming would-be epic follows Roman soldier Marcus (a poorly cast Tatum) as he attempts to track down and reclaim the golden emblem lost by his late father, the commander of the ill-fated Ninth Legion. His only company for this foolhardy quest is a British slave (Bell of “Billy Elliot,” outperforming Tatum at every turn), who acts as a guide and translator but whose trustworthiness is strongly in question. Well-choreographed action sequences and an effectively tense atmosphere elevate “The Eagle” considerably, and fans of such films as “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Troy” will no doubt find more than enough to entertain them here. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:54.

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

“UNKNOWN,” starring Liam Neeson and January Jones. A botanist (Neeson) attending a conference in Berlin awakens from a coma following a horrific accident to find that his wife (Jones, “Mad Men”) no longer seems to know him, and another man (Aidan Quinn, “Songcatcher”) has stolen his identity. Enlisting the help of a comely cabbie (Diane Kruger, “Inglourious Basterds”) and a private detective (Bruno Ganz, “Downfall”), he sets about reclaiming his life through any means necessary. Successfully furthering the reinvention of Neeson as an action hero that began with “Taken,” “Unknown” is a crackling thriller from director Jaume Collet-Serra. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:53.

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

NEW ON DVD

“THE CLOSER: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON,” starring Kyra Sedgwick and J.K. Simmons. Crime thriller favorite finds Sedgwick’s no-nonsense Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson gunning for the LAPD police chief position, with Assistant Chief Simmons (“Juno”) providing solid, and often uncomfortable, competition. As solid and entertaining as ever, season six contains several episodes considered by fans to among the series’ best. Not rated, contains violence and language.

Suggested retail price: $39.98. 

“LOUIE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON,” starring Louis C.K. and Hadley Delaney. Alternately hilarious and disturbing, comedian-auteur C.K. brings his no-holds-barred stand-up act to the boundary-pushing FX network, which has thankfully granted him carte blanche to let his twisted imagination and sense of humor run wild. It’s “Seinfeld” meets “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to the nth degree, but with no discernible filter whatsoever. Not for the easily offended, but incredibly funny for viewers who don’t mind a darker comic sensibility than the average sitcom. Special features include commentary from C.K. on select episodes. Not rated, contains language, violence and crude humor. Running time: 4:42.

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

NEW ON BLU-RAY

“THE ISLAND,” starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. Uncharacteristically intelligent 2005 sci-fi thriller from director Michael Bay (“Transformers”) is something of a “Logan’s Run” for the new millennium, with McGregor and Johansson endeavoring to escape their sterile society upon discovering that they are, in fact, clones bred exclusively for spare organs. Exciting throughout, and containing far more food for thought than your average megaplex fodder, “The Island” is the perfect Michael Bay movie for people who hate Michael Bay. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:16.

Suggested retail price: $24.99. 

“KISS ME DEADLY,” starring Ralph Meeker and Cloris Leachman. This 1955 adaptation of the Mickey Spillane novel is about as dark as noir gets. Meeker (“Paths of Glory”) sinks his teeth into the role of morally ambiguous detective Mike Hammer, running afoul of a scantily clad hitchhiker (Leachman) who pulls him into your average web of criminal intrigue, held together by a Macguffin actually referred to as “the great whatsit.” Far more mean-spirited than your average ’50s flick, “Kiss Me Deadly” is down and dirty gumshoe entertainment at its finest. Not rated, contains violence and mild language. Running time: 1:46.

Suggested retail price: $39.95.

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“CEDAR RAPIDS,” starring Ed Helms and John C. Reilly. Known to most audiences as either the least dynamic of the “Hangover” trio or as Andy “The Nard Dog” Bernard on TV’s “The Office,” Helms has made an impressive career revolving mainly around supporting comic roles, so it’s a pleasure to watch him seize the opportunity for a rare lead performance in this winning comedy from director Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl”). Helms portrays Tim Lippe, a boyish and extremely naive small-town insurance agent whose trip to the titular city turns his entire way of thinking upside down. Ostensibly in town for an insurance convention, Tim soon realizes that the itinerary is going out the window upon making the acquaintance of Dean (Reilly, “Cyrus”), a hard-partying fellow agent, and Joan (Anne Heche, vamping it up hilariously), a particularly sexually charged conventioneer. Rated R for profanity, sexual content, nudity and drug use. Running time: 1:26.

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

“SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY,” documentary. Filmmaker William Castle became famous less for his movies (standard if energetic ’50s and ’60s drive-in fare such as “13 Frightened Girls!” and “Let’s Kill Uncle Before Uncle Kills Us”) than for his advertising gimmicks. Whether administering mild electric shocks to audience members’ seats or dressing ushers like monsters, no stunt was too over-the-top for Castle, and this affectionate documentary provides input from such devotees as Joe Dante (“Gremlins”), John Waters (“Pink Flamingoes”) and Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”). Not rated, contains language. Running time: 1:22.

Suggested retail price: $19.95. 

— Courtesy of Videoport

 

Copy the Story Link