NEW ON THE SHELF

“ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED,” starring Jason Lee and Justin Long. Yet another hour and a half of squeaky-voiced karaoke and flatulence jokes, this time stranding Alvin and his crooning rodent brethren on a tropical island after falling off a cruise ship. This leaves ample opportunity for dance routines and “Lost” references, your enjoyment of which will depend on your tolerance for the aforementioned squeaky-voiced karaoke and flatulence jokes. Rated G. Running time: 1:27

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

“EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE,” starring Thomas Horn and Tom Hanks. Critics were sharply divided on this emotional adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s bestseller, following young Oskar (an impressive lead performance from newcomer Horn) as he works to unravel a mystery revolving around a key left behind by his father (Hanks, in a brief but affecting role), who died in the 9/11 attacks. Alternately decried for sappiness and praised for its sensitivity, “Loud” is clearly a film that elicits a strong reaction, a quality that should be lauded regardless of one’s opinion of the material. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:09

Suggested retail price: $28.98; Blu-ray $29.98 

“IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND MONEY,” starring Zana Marjanovic and Goran Kostic. Action-hero bombshell Angelina Jolie tries her hand behind the camera for this devastating and complex war-torn romance set during the Bosnian War. Jolie has no fear when it comes to facing the unspeakable acts of violence that took place during this war, resulting in scenes that, while essential to the work, can be tough to endure. Rated R. Running time: 2:07

Suggested retail price: $40.99; Blu-ray $40.99

 

“SOUTH PARK: THE COMPLETE FIFTEENTH SEASON,” animated with the voices of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Approaching two decades into its run, the evil masterminds behind this foul-mouthed animated comedy still manage to find ways to offend, startle and most importantly crack up its faithful audience. Season 15 finds the ever put-upon Kyle unwittingly forced into a “Human Centipede” situation after agreeing to an iTunes update, gullible Randy cultivating an appreciation for Broadway musicals for reasons that have zero to do with theater, and Stan entering a midlife crisis upon turning 10. Running time: 5:08

Suggested retail price: $49.99; Blu-ray $57.99

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“THE BODYGUARD,” starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Houston’s recent passing has renewed interest in this 1992 drama, a big hit at the time and a compelling screen pairing in the former reigning pop diva and Costner, playing a former Secret Service agent whose finds himself falling hard for the celebrity he’s supposed to be protecting. Rated R. Running time: 2:09

Suggested retail price: $19.98

 

“CASABLANCA: 70TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. A film that needs no introduction to movie buffs, this enduring 1942 classic is Bogie at his best, scowling and pining his way through a wrenching WWII-set romantic drama. Beautifully remastered, “Casablanca” has never looked better, making this a no-brainer purchase for the cinephile in your life. Special features include several documentaries about cast and crew, and a commentary from film critic Roger Ebert. Not rated. Running time: 1:42

Suggested retail price: $64.99

 

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“CORMAN’S WORLD,” documentary. Roger Corman is one of Hollywood’s most prolific and innovative writer-director-producers, and his guerrilla approach to both filming and marketing not only resulted in some of the most entertaining B-movies imaginable, but launched one prestigious career after another. Not just a valentine to a beloved icon, director Alex Stapleton’s breezy yet in-depth doc relies heavily and effectively on a treasure trove of entertaining clips from Corman’s films to relate the man’s legacy. Rated R. Running time: 1:35

Suggested retail price: $26.98; Blu-ray $29.99

 

“A DANGEROUS METHOD,” starring Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley. Director David Cronenberg relates the fascinating relationship between then-budding doctor Carl Jung (Fassbender) and his newest patient, the very troubled young Sabrina Speilrein (Knightley), who becomes a test subject for the then-radical “talking cure.” As the ads for the film make abundantly clear, the sexual tension soon puts a considerable strain on the otherwise successful treatment, and the counsel Jung seeks from his colleague, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), isn’t always well-intentioned. Rated R. Running time: 1:39

Suggested retail price: $30.99; Blu-ray $35.99