NEW ON THE SHELF

“BATTLESHIP,” starring Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna. The board game adaptation we’re not entirely sure anyone was clamoring for, “Battleship” nonetheless has a rah-rah B-movie appeal that would be tougher to resist were the explosion-heavy film not more than two hours long. Director Peter Berg (“The Rundown”) dispenses with his usual comedic action set pieces and instead blows everything to smithereens, pitting the U.S. Navy against an alien attack. A decent supporting cast helps matters considerably, with the always game Liam Neeson showing up to bark orders for a few scenes and the very funny Hamish Linklater as the tech geek who first detects the oncoming extraterrestrials. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:11

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

“THE LUCKY ONE,” starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling. Suitably syrupy Nicholas Sparks (“The Notebook”) adaptation finds marine Efron embarking on a quest to track down the woman in the picture he found while on duty in the Middle East, a picture that seemed to serve as a good luck charm to him while in combat. What transpires is unlucky to surprise anyone familiar with the typical romance formula, but there’s an old-fashioned comfort inherent in even the least subtle of Sparks’ works, and the leads sell the smoky glances with aplomb. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:41

Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $35.99

“THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS,” animated with the voices of Hugh Grant and Salma Hayek. Rollicking family-friendly comedy from the brilliant minds at Aardman Animations (the “Wallace and Gromit” series) manages to inject new life and humor into the of late overtaxed pirate genre. Grant is funnier than he’s been in years as Pirate Captain, a put-upon overseer of a band of questionable hearties looking to finally win the coveted and elusive Pirate of the Year award. Packed with all manner of visual and verbal gags, “The Pirates!” is the perfect tonic for audiences weary of Jack Sparrow and his ilk. Special features include a commentary from directors Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt (“Chicken Run”). Rated PG.

Suggested retail price: $30.99; Blu-ray $45.99

“BOARDWALK EMPIRE: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON,” starring Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt. The unsavory exploits of Prohibition-era Atlantic City treasurer Nucky Thompson (Buscemi) continue unabated in this even more eventful second season, wherein the already serious tension is ratcheted up to near unbearable levels. Comparison to “The Sopranos” are unavoidable (unsurprising, as the show’s creator, Terrence Winter, wrote for that show), but “Empire” puts its own distinctive brand on the gangster genre. Running time: 12:00

Suggested retail price: $59.99; Blu-ray $79.98

“SONS OF ANARCHY: SEASON FOUR,” starring Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman. An unlikely and uneasy alliance puts SAMCRO in a precarious position in season four of the popular and endlessly compelling motorcycle gang drama, which is as impeccably acted and addictive as ever. Not rated; contains violence, language and sexual content. Running time: 10:56

Suggested retail price: $59.98; Blu-ray $69.99

“THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON,” starring Andrew Lincoln and Sarah Wayne Callies. The wide-reaching scope of the first season of this acclaimed zombie apocalypse series is pared down effectively for number two, stranding Rick (Lincoln) and his put-upon followers on Hershel’s farm for several episodes in a deft and effective homage to the original “Night of the Living Dead.” Far more than just “that zombie show,” “Dead” lives and dies by its characters, all of whom are expertly drawn by the creators and brought to life by one of the best casts on TV. Not rated; contains violence, gore and language. Running time: 9:38

Suggested retail price: $59.98; Blu-ray $69.99

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“QUADROPHENIA,” starring Phil Daniels and Sting. When discussing coming-of-age movies, this 1979 cult classic rarely gets tossed around with widely appreciated youth angst films such as “The Graduate” or “Dazed and Confused.” But the fact that filmmaker Cameron Crowe (who directed “Almost Famous” and written/lived “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”) counts “Quadrophenia” among his favorite films of all time should tell you something. Set in the early ’60’s, the film is largely spent in the company of Jimmy (Phil Daniels), a typically unsettled teen who identifies with the local Mods, nattily attired fellows who constantly clash with the uncouth Rockers. Music defines everything here, and where the film is somewhat based upon and peppered with the music of The Who album of the same name, let’s just say the soundtrack is better than average. Rated R. Running time: 1:57

Suggested retail price: $39.95

VIDEOPORT PICK

“HEADHUNTERS,” starring Aksel Hennie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Who’s up for a Norwegian action movie? While that’s not an invitation we get to offer terribly often, that may well change considering the overwhelmingly positive critical and audience response to this twisty and twisted thriller. Desperate art thief Roger is pitted against the much smoother ex-soldier Clas (Coster-Waldau), a dangerous man in possession of a rare and extremely valuable painting. Finding the temptation impossible to resist, Roger soon finds himself regretting the risk when Clas’ true deadly nature begins to manifest itself. Rated R for bloody violence including some grisly images, strong sexual content and nudity. Running time: 1:40

Suggested retail price: $26.98; Blu-ray $29.98.

– Courtesy of Videoport