NEW ON THE SHELF

“PEEPLES,” starring Craig Robinson and Kerry Washington. Amiable comedy finds well-meaning lug Wade (Robinson, “The Office”) barging in on his girlfriend’s (Washington, “Scandal”) family during their annual reunion, intending to propose, to the rampant chagrin of her stern father (a return to form for the great David Alan Grier, “In Living Color”). While bearing some noticeable similarities to “Meet the Parents,” “Peeples” establishes its own unique comic rhythm, and the excellent cast play off each other superbly.  Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:35

Suggested retail price: $19.98; Blu-ray $24.99 

“STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS,” starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Director J.J. Abrams’ wildly successful sequel to his popular 2009 reboot of the pioneering space travel series follows Kirk (Pine) and crew as they desperately attempt to uncover destructive evil forces within their own organization, struggling to maintain their solidarity in the process. Of particular note for adding Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”) to the already excellent cast, “Into Darkness” continues Abrams’ seemingly unstoppable winning streak, and should please Trekkies of all stripes. Rated PG-13. Running time: 2:11

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

NEW TO DVD

“THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON,” starring Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons. Everybody’s favorite socially maladjusted geniuses are back for yet another season of geeky goodness, with Howard (Simon Helberg) enjoying a particularly memorably storyline aboard the International Space Station, and Sheldon (Emmy-award winner Parsons) unexpectedly getting into an altercation with nerd icon Wil Wheaton. Special features include cast interviews. Not rated. Running time: 8 hours

Suggested retail price: $44.98; Blu-ray $54.97 

“HOMELAND: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON,” starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.  Season two of the award-winning program continues the powerhouse performances and brilliant writing that has garnered the series near-universal acclaim. Not rated. Running time: 10:29

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

“SUPERNATURAL: THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON,” starring Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. A twisty, anything-goes fantasy-drama that has slowly built up one of the most loyal followings in television, “Supernatural” shows no signs of slowing down (or getting any less outlandish) in the eighth season, with Dean (Ackles) returning from a stint in Purgatory a changed man, to say the least. Starting from the beginning is absolutely mandatory, but “Supernatural” is more than entertaining enough to make it worth the work. Not rated. Running time: 16:29

Suggested retail price: $59.98; Blu-ray $69.97 

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION,” starring Kane Hodder and Corey Feldman. Horror fans wistful for the glory days of Camp Crystal Lake can relive the magic with this remastered 10-disc set, which include all 12 of Jason’s gory adventures in addition to a 40-page booklet and an embroidered patch!  Special features include 11 hours of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Rated R.

Suggested retail price: $129.95 

“MARATHON MAN,” starring Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier. The dental industry most likely saw a serious decline in revenue following the release of this iconic 1976 thriller, which finds Hoffman’s graduate student quite unexpectedly embroiled in a far-reaching conspiracy involving a Nazi war criminal and stolen diamonds.  Largely remembered these days for a particularly queasy scene of dental torture between Hoffman and a terrifying Laurence “is it safe?” Olivier, “Marathon Man” remains an at times unbearably tense picture from director John Schlesinger. Rated R. Running time: 2:05 

Suggested retail price: $19.98 

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“CHASING ICE,” documentary. The past decade has seen great strides in the natural documentary realm, with such productions as “Planet Earth” putting into perspective not only the wonders of the world around us but the leaps in technology that allow us to capture such mindbending footage. “Chasing Ice” is one of the few docs to focus more on the precarious (and often life-threatening) work involved in capturing these phenomenal images, following filmmaker James Balog as he tirelessly rigs expensive cameras in terribly unsafe areas, watching helplessly as curious animals, terrible conditions and plain old bad luck nullify his efforts time and again.

While the lucky viewer is also treated to plenty of breathtaking footage of the terrain and glaciers of Iceland, Greenland and Alaska — and though there’s an important environmental message to take away — it’s the filmmaker’s struggle that will likely resonate most, giving the audience a whole new appreciation for an oft-unheralded craft. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1:15

Suggested retail price: $29.95; Blu-ray $39.95 

“LUTHER 3,” starring Idris Elba and Warren Brown. The “quality over quantity” mindset of the BBC regarding its TV output ensures thoughtful, well-produced entertainment regardless of your series preference. But with the ever-growing popularity of, and demand for ,these shows, it’s inevitable that some of these series will fall through the cracks, and we’re really hoping that doesn’t happen with “Luther.” 

A grim, unapologetically dark police procedural with the formidable Idris Elba (“The Wire”) in the titular role as a brilliant, uncompromising (and frankly, often flat-out terrifying) murder detective, “Luther” suffered from a few less-than-encouraging reviews in the early going. But it has since developed into seriously addictive crime fare, with a protagonist that’s as magnetic as he is morally questionable. With only a handful of episodes per season, “Luther” is over far before you want it to be, but it makes every minute count. Not rated. Running time: 4:00  

Suggested retail price: $34.98 

— Courtesy of Videoport

 

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