NEW ON THE SHELF

“BATTLE OF THE DAMNED,” Dolph Lundgren, Max Gatling. It’s generally a very select audience that expresses any excitement over the latest Dolph Lundgren (“Rocky IV”) release, but this proudly derivative mash-up of at least eight other action franchises makes up for its lack of originality with pure energy, which pits retired soldier Lundgren against a zombielike population infected by a deadly pathogen in your typical war-raved post-apocalyptic future-scape. Effects and costumes are well above-average for its modest budget, Lundgren is his usual likably lunkheaded self, and writer-director Christopher Hatton (“Sammyville”) doesn’t waste a lot of zombie-killing time on exposition. A grade-A example of grade-Z entertainment, and we mean absolutely no disrespect with that remark. Rated R. Running time: 1:29 Suggested retail price: $24.99; Blu-ray $29.99. 

“HELLBENDERS,” Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr. Writer-director J.T. Petty (“The Burrowers”) adapts his own graphic novel for the screen with this loose and funny horror-comedy concerning the Hellbound Saints, a group of none-too-pious priests who perform extremely unconventional exorcisms whenever they’re not too busy getting drunk or committing petty crimes, ensuring that if they’re ever possessed, they need only commit suicide to ensure that the demon is returned to Hell. Led by Larry (Collins, “The Rules of Attraction”) and the particularly coarse Father Brown (the always entertaining Clancy Brown, “The Shawshank Redemption”), the sacrilegious misadventures on display make for some gory, lowbrow fun for those in a properly irreverent frame of mind. Special features include a commentary from cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage. Rated R. Running time: 1:27. Suggested retail price: $19.99; Blu-ray $24.99.

NEW TO DVD

“GAME OF THRONES: THE COMPLETE SEASON THREE,” Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey. It’s hard to say much of anything about the third season of HBO’s universally acclaimed, beloved, and ever-astounding adaptation of the popular fantasy saga by George R. R. Martin. Even saying the word “wedding” feels like saying too much. Please, if you’re not already caught up, start at the beginning and try to stay off the Internet and not talk to anyone until you’re up to speed. It’s just not safe out there. Special features include twelve commentaries with cast and crew. Not rated. Running time: 9:21. Suggested retail price: $59.99; Blu-ray $79.98. 

“NURSE JACKIE: THE COMPLETE SEASON FIVE,” Edie Falco, Adam Ferrera. Apart from the always engaging Falco’s indelible performance, part of the fun of Showtime’s “Jackie” is in seeing how low this loose cannon can go and still remain a likable character, but season 5 finds everyone’s favorite unscrupulous nurse seemingly turning her life around a bit after completing a successful stint in rehab and even venturing into the dating world when unforeseen circumstances lead her to NYC policeman Frank (Ferrera, “Rescue Me”), who takes a shine to our brash anti-heroine. Special features include cast and crew commentaries. Not rated. Running time: 4:40. Suggested retail price: $39.98; Blu-ray $39.97.

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“DARKMAN,” Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand. The first foray into big-budget territory for the once extremely DIY filmmaker Sam Raimi (the original “Evil Dead”) is a typically insane 1990 sci-fi/action/horror offering that gives a then relatively unknown Neeson one of his first starring roles as a disfigured scientist who uses his skills in the laboratory to take violent, over-the-top revenge on his attackers. With a young, then equally unknown McDormand as the love interest. Rated R. Running time: 1:36. Suggested retail price: $29.99. 

“FANTASTIC MR. FOX,” Animated. With the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep. With their similar off-kilter sense of whimsy and particular brand of dark humor, it makes perfect sense that filmmaker Wes Anderson and author Roald Dahl made such an ideal pairing, and this dazzling 2009 stop-motion adaptation is a winning return to your classier forms of children’s entertainment, with a top-notch voice cast that also includes Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Willem Dafoe. Special features include a commentary from Anderson, behind-the-scenes footage, and an audio recording of Dahl reading the book itself. Rated PG. Running time: 1:27.Suggested retail price: $39.99.

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“AFTERNOON DELIGHT,” Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple. A scene-stealing character actress adept at portraying grating and hilariously thoughtless characters (see “Our Idiot Brother” or “Parks & Recreation”), Kathryn Hahn gets the long overdue chance to both headline a film and indulge her less obnoxious side in this observant and funny dramedy from writer-director Jill Soloway (“United States of Tara”), wherein stay-at-home mom Rachel (Hahn) opts to spice up her marriage by visiting a local strip club alongside husband Jeff (Josh Radnor, “How I Met Your Mother”), an out-of-character move that results in Rachel unexpectedly bonding with one of the exotic dancers (Temple, “Killer Joe”), ultimately taking the young woman into her home in the hopes of somehow rehabilitating her. As might be expected, all does not go according to plan, and while not every element of this somewhat experimental feature coheres perfectly, Hahn’s remarkable performance alone makes “Delight” well worth spending some time with. Rated R. Running time: 1:35. Suggested retail price: $29.99; Blu-ray $34.99. 

“THE PERVERT’S GUIDE TO IDEOLOGY,” Documentary. Not rated. Spend a couple wonderfully mind-boggling hours with noted philosopher and cultural critic Slavoj Zizek in this dizzying, often brilliant “Guide,” which makes connections between seemingly disposable pop culture elements and the world around us with all its outlandish and troubling beliefs. As in “The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema” before it, Zizek’s manic comparisons seem less crazy as the film progresses, and you may well never watch a film or enjoy your favorite band in quite the same way again once the man’s thought patterns take hold. Make a double feature out of it with “Room 237,” then sit back and let your brain comfortably explode. Running time: 2:16. Suggested retail price: $29.99.

– Courtesy of Videoport