October 25, 2012

DVD Releases

• NEW ON THE SHELF

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Keira Knightley and Steve Carell in “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.”

Focus Features

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER," starring Benjamin Walker and Rufus Sewell. Another history/monster mash-up, this patently ridiculous but admirably straight-faced action-horror provides exactly what the title promises: A chance to watch Honest Abe (Walker) fight a bunch of bloodsuckers led by a very game Sewell, whose plot to take over the United States convinces Lincoln to go into politics (a factoid we apparently overlooked in our high school history class). Refreshingly free of snarkiness despite its knowingly silly setup, "Lincoln" is well-constructed drive-in fare that should give history majors and horror fans a rare opportunity to bond. Rated R. Running time: 1:45

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

"MAGIC MIKE," starring Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Never one to shy away from unpredictability, director Steven Soderbergh ("Out of Sight") turns his introspective camera towards the seemingly uncomplicated world of male strip clubs. Star Tatum's real-life experiences and former profession are used as a loose basis for this likable and often very funny tale of an aspiring furniture designer moonlighting as a stripper by night, taking a newcomer under his wing while wooing his new pupil's skeptical sister. Lording over this odd universe is club owner Dallas (McConaughey, essentially playing himself and having a high old time doing so), a longtime professional stripper determined to show the ladies of Tampa a good time. Special features include deleted dance scenes and backstage footage. Rated R. Running time: 1:50

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

"SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD," starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. Not your average apocalyptic romantic comedy, this winningly observant debut from director Lorene Scafaria pairs newly single insurance salesman Carell with somewhat scatterbrained neighbor Knightley as they navigate a newly out-of-control Earth, one that's recently learned that an asteroid is on its way to destroy them all in a few weeks. This prompts its citizens to embark upon a mad, hedonistic scramble to cram in as much living as possible before it strikes. Meanwhile, our heroes just want to reunite with former lovers and long-lost family, and their quest to fulfill this simple desire amidst chaos is by turns hilarious, frightening and ultimately very touching. Rated R. Running time: 1:41

Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $34.98

"TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION," starring Tyler Perr and Eugene Levy. Everybody's favorite hulking, gun-toting multimillionaire dressed as an insane grandma is back for another round of half-hearted slapstick, lazy jokes and questionable moral messages, this time dragging poor Eugene Levy along as a disgraced tycoon hiding out from the mob in Madea's house. It's a long story and likely not one most viewers are going to want to endure, although Perry always manages to score a few laughs through sheer force of will alone. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:54

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

"LOST GIRL: SEASON ONE," starring Anna Silk and Ksenia Solo. Steamy Canadian horror fantasy concerns a young succubus (Silk, "Breakfast with Scot") intent on finding out more about her origins when not too busy depriving men of their souls during intercourse. Brazenly lurid, unabashedly sexual and for the most part thoroughly entertaining. Special features include interviews with cast and crew. Not rated; contains nudity, sexual content, language and violence. Running time: 9:32

Suggested retail price: $44.98; Blu-ray $49.98

"SECRET OF THE WINGS," animated with the voices of Mae Whitman and Timothy Dalton. Peter Pan's pixie sidekick has taken on a life of her own on DVD, and this addition to the series finds the ever plucky Tinkerbell attempting to unite the fairies of warm Pixie Hollow with those of the icy, forbidden Winter Woods. Heavy-handed messages abound, but that's unlikely to distract the wee ones from the colorful fun onscreen. Not rated; nothing objectionable. Running time: 1:20

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