NEW ON THE SHELF:

“Annie,” Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx. Overdue update of the 1981 favorite, the long-running musical and the enduring comic strip character originally created by Harold Gray finds an ideal Annie in Wallis (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”). She invests our orphaned heroine with just the right amount of pluck and spunk, and Foxx makes a suitably debonair, no-nonsense Daddy Warbucks. The modern day setting gives director Will Gluck (“Friends with Benefits”) just enough leeway to tweak the source material without straying so far as to be unrecognizable. Rated PG. Running time: 1:58. Suggested retail price: $30.99; Blu-ray $38.99

“Exodus: Gods & Kings,” Christian Bale, John Turturro. The story of Moses, as brought to you by director Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) and star Bale, adding another solid Bible-as-blockbuster to the steadily growing genre. Even CGI naysayers will forced to marvel at the large-scale digital carnage on display, with the notorious plagues given special consideration. Sunday school was never this much fun. Special features include deleted and extended scenes and a commentary from Scott and co-writer Jeffrey Caine. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:45. Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $49.99

“Penguins of Madagascar,” Animated, with the voices of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller. The scene-stealing aquatic fowl of the ever-popular “Madagascar” series are given the chance to headline in this enjoyable bit of family-friendly slapstick, wherein Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with an undercover organization to bring down the evil Dr. Octavius Brine, also known as Dave (hilariously played by John Malkovich). Both funny and genuinely exciting, this spinoff arguably outshines its cinematic forebears. Rated PG. Running time: 1:32. Suggested $29.98; Blu-ray $36.99

VIDEOPORT PICKS:

“Top Five,” Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson. A peerless stand-up comedian who somehow never quite found the right big-screen vehicle for his particular talents, Chris Rock has finally found his Hollywood sweet spot with this uproarious, downright impossible-to-dislike comedy, with Rock well in his comfort zone as comedian Andre, whose thus far puerile film career and rocky relationship to reality star Erica (Gabrielle Union) prompts him to try something new with a rare dramatic role. Enter Chelsea (Dawson), a journalist tasked with writing a profile on him. The chemistry is instant, and the two soon find themselves bonding in unexpected ways, even while one obstacle after another threatens to completely derail both of their lives over the course of one tumultuous day. With terrific supporting roles for such familiar faces as Cedric the Entertainer, Brian Regan and Jerry Seinfeld as you’ve never seen him before, “Top Five” is a bang-up return to form from a remarkable talent. Rated R. Running time: 1:41. Suggested retail price: $29.99; Blu-ray $39.99

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“The Way He Looks,” Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi. With “The Way He Looks,” writer-director Daniel Ribeiro has delivered perhaps the definitive look at growing up gay, the process of coming to terms with yourself in the face of a community and even a family that might not be able to accept you. Introducing us to blind teen Leo (Lobo) and his new friend Gabriel (Audi), we see a burgeoning relationship form believably and at times heartbreakingly, but never in a preachy or ham-fisted way. Highly recommended. Not rated. Running time: 1:36. Suggested retail price: $27.99; Blu-ray $32.99

NEW TO DVD:

“Song of the Sea,” animated, with the voices of David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson. From the creative minds behind the equally gorgeous “The Secret of Kelis” comes this stunner of a fable, following young siblings Saorise and Ben, whose quest to reunite with their missing mother reveals a string of mystical secrets about their absent parent, and powers that may lie dormant within themselves as well. “Song of the Sea” is that rare family film that’s equally rewarding for all ages. Rated PG. Running time: 1:34. Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $34.98

“TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season” Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich. The underrated Bell (perhaps best known as “Billy Elliot”) gets a well-earned shot at stardom for his portrayal of cabbage farmer Abe Woodhull, who unexpectedly finds himself an integral part of the patriot movement during the American Revolution, a development he must hide from his not-at-all like-minded family and friends. Not rated. Running time: 7:32. Suggested retail price: $49.98; Blu-ray $59.99.

NEW TO BLU-RAY:

“Aguirre: Wrath of God” Klaus Kinski, Ruy Guerra. Herzog’s brilliantly insane 1972 cult classic, which introduces an unready world to the compelling madness of Klaus Kinski, unforgettable as Don Lope de Aguirre, who leads his army on a doomed quest to find El Dorado, the fabled Lost City of Gold. All does not go according to plan, to be kind, but it rarely does in the land of Herzog, and “Aguirre” is an ideal intro to the man’s brand of cinematic fury. Not rated. Running time: 1:34. Suggested retail price: $24.97.

“The Wild One” Marlon Brandon, Mary Murphy. One of Brando’s more purely enjoyable performances, his turn as the wantonly rebellious motorcycle lout Johnny Strabler is just fun, and to improve matters tenfold, we have the equally entertaining Lee Marvin on hand as a rival gang leader. A B-movie with a bit of a conscience, this 1953 favorite brings the drive-in in style with a beautifully remastered print. Not rated. Running time: 1:20. Suggested retail price: $14.98.


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