NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

“UNSTOPPABLE,” starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Above-average thrill ride finds train engineers Washington and Pine (“Star Trek”) putting their machine to the test when circumstances render them the best chance at preventing an unmanned locomotive full of toxic chemicals from jumping track and wreaking havoc on a Pennsylvania town. By keeping the action lean and mean, director Tony Scott (“Top Gun”) somewhat curbs his tendencies to go well over the top, and the result is a purely enjoyable action movie. Maine native Ryan Ahern has a minor role as a Marine veteran with special ops training. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:38.

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

“WAITING FOR SUPERMAN,” documentary. While some critics have derided “Superman” for being long on sentiment and short on proposed solutions, director Davis Guggenheim’s attempt to take the failures of the American public school system to task is a hugely affecting document of the brave teachers and hopeful students struggling to work within a system that lets them down at seemingly every possible turn. If you don’t come away angry, you weren’t paying close enough attention. Special features include four additional student-teacher stories and a conversation with Guggenheim. Rated PG. Running time: 1:51.

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

NEW ON DVD

“DR. WHO: A CHRISTMAS CAROL,” starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Yet another “Dr. Who” special, this time providing an amusing time-traveling take on Dickens’ oft-adapted holiday classic. Special features include behind-the-scenes footage. Not rated; contains mild language. Running time: 1:00.

Suggested retail price: DVD $14.98; Blu-ray $19.98. 

“LEMMY,” documentary. One of rock’s most enduring and entertaining icons, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead (probably best known for the blistering “Ace of Spades”), allows directors Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski (and, by proxy, millions of adoring fans) seemingly unlimited access to his no-holds-barred lifestyle, both on stage and off. Adding their two cents are a colorful roster of fans and friends, who include Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Billy Bob Thornton and Slash, just to name a few. Special features include more than four hours of bonus footage and performances. Not rated; contains frequent crude language and drug content. Running time: 4:00

Suggested retail price: DVD $24.98; Blu-ray $26.98. 

“SECRET TO A HAPPY ENDING,” documentary. While they haven’t entirely achieved mainstream success, any true fan of Southern rock should be well aware of Drive-By Truckers, a fantastic, down-and-dirty band that tours relentlessly and has achieved critical acclaim and a considerable fanbase. This entertaining doc follows the Truckers over three typically difficult years on the road and in the studio. Not rated; contains language. Running time: 1:41.

Suggested retail price: $15.98. 

NEW ON BLU-RAY

“LAST TANGO IN PARIS,” starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. Ever-controversial 1972 drama chronicles the down-and-dirty affair between an aging American businessman (Brando, baring it all in more ways than one) and a young Parisian woman (the beautiful Maria Schneider of “The Passenger”). While you’ll never look at a certain dairy product in the same way again, “Paris” still retains the power to shock and inspire. Rated NC-17. Running time: 2:16.

Suggested retail price: $19.99. 

“MOONSTRUCK,” starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. The movie that introduced the phrase “Academy-Award winner Cher” into the cinematic lexicon, 1987’s “Moonstruck” is a loopy, endlessly quotable (“Snap out of it!”) romantic comedy of sorts that finds harried Brooklyn widow Lorette (Cher) forced to reconsider her engagement to friendly but uninteresting Johnny (Danny Aiello) when she begins spending time with his strange and estranged younger brother, Ronny (Nicholas Cage). Thoroughly Italian and full of love, “Moonstruck” captures the ups and downs of family like few comedies have, then or since. Rated PG. Running time 1:42.

Suggested retail price: $19.99. 

“RAIN MAN,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. Beloved 1988 hit resulted in a much-deserved Oscar for Hoffman after his unforgettable performance as Raymond Babbitt, autistic savant and recent heir to his late father’s vast fortune, who embarks on an alternately touching and hilarious road trip with his impatient yuppie brother, played by Cruise in what remains one of his best performances. Rated R. Running time: 2:13.

Suggested retail price: $19.99.

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“SUMMER WARS,” animated with the voices of Maeghan Albach and Chris Ayres. Like many viewers, we can’t claim to be experts on the divisive world of Japanese anime, but we know what we like, and we very much like Mamoru Hosoda’s “Summer Wars.” Taking a break from his part-time job maintaining a fantastical online community known as “Oz,” teenaged Kenji agrees to accompany his attractive classmate to her grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration, where the generational differences run wild and rampant. Meanwhile, a cyberterrorist infiltrates Oz, forcing Kenji to put his considerable math skills to good use. Rated PG for mild language and sexual content. Running time: 2:00.

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

“YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER,” starring Anthony Hopkins and Naomi Watts. Even Woody Allen’s staunchest fans will readily admit that the man has been running on autopilot for some time. Thankfully, “Stranger” finds the Woodman in top form, as always benefiting from a top-shelf cast but managing to indulge his experimental tendencies while making a very human and forgiving film about love (both illicit and otherwise) and man’s endless, possible futile quest for true happiness. Rated R for some language. Running time: 1:38.

Suggested retail price: DVD $28.95; Blu-ray $38.96.

— Courtesy of Videoport