Two members of the elite G.I. JOE team are team leader Duke (Channing Tatum, left) and expert marksman and weapons specialist Ripcord (Marlon Wayans, right). (Paramount Pictures) |
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"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"
Paramount, $29.98/$34.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
First introduced in 1964, the G.I. Joe line of war toys became a popular cartoon in the '80s -- now it's a live-action movie that might as well be a cartoon. Dennis Quaid plays a general who leads an elite team of soldiers against a cadre of colorful bad guys. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is very broad and laden with the kind of state-of-the-art special effects that make it look like every other action movie on the market, but at least no one involved takes the material too seriously. The DVD and Blu-ray don't add much value, offering as extras only a commentary track and a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
"Aliens in the Attic"
20th Century Fox, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99
A group of bickering suburbanite teens and pre-teens repel tiny invaders from space in "Aliens in the Attic," a harmless family action-comedy that hits the usual beats, as the interstellar crisis predictably brings the warring human characters together. The DVD and Blu-ray tacks on an alternate ending, deleted scenes and featurettes hosted by Ashley Tisdale, one of the movie's stars.
"Food, Inc."
Magnolia, $26.98; Blu-ray, $34.98
Robert Kenner's documentary "Food, Inc." aims to inform viewers about how the American food industry might slowly be killing us all -- or at least making us unwitting accomplices in widespread immorality. Kenner keeps "Food, Inc." straightforward and diverting, with music and graphics to help underscore the message. The lack of participation from the major food companies -- not for lack of asking on Kenner's part -- makes the movie feel one-sided, but there's a lot of vital information here. The DVD and Blu-ray add nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes, plus a bevy of public service announcements.
"I Love You, Beth Cooper"
20th Century Fox, $27.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
Teen comedy "I Love You, Beth Cooper" tries -- and fails -- to capture the light spirit and sense of community of '80s high school movies. After the nerdy valedictorian (Paul Rust) professes his love for one of the most popular girls in school (Hayden Panettiere), he spends a crazy night learning that hanging with the in crowd can be dangerous. Neither scripter Larry Doyle (who adapts his own novel for the screen) nor director Chris Columbus makes much effort to update this story for the '00s, and the film relies too much on worn-out "dorks vs. jocks" clichés. The DVD and Blu-ray come with an alternate ending, deleted scenes and a handful of featurettes.
"The Taking of Pelham 123"
Sony, $28.96; Blu-ray, $39.95
The 1974 thriller "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" was at once a clever caper movie about a band of subway-hijackers and a gritty, wry movie about New York in the early '70s. Director Tony Scott's 2009 remake is an entertaining throwback, though not so much to the '70s as the '90s, when Hollywood was rife with explosive action movies featuring smart everyman heroes and smooth-talking villains. In the new "Pelham," Denzel Washington plays the hero, a train dispatcher, and John Travolta is the villain, a vicious cynic who puts a $10-million price tag on his hostages. The DVD and Blu-ray include two commentary tracks and four featurettes about the challenges of revamping an old school New York movie for a post-9/11 world.
All titles available Tuesday.
Paramount, $29.98/$34.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
First introduced in 1964, the G.I. Joe line of war toys became a popular cartoon in the '80s -- now it's a live-action movie that might as well be a cartoon. Dennis Quaid plays a general who leads an elite team of soldiers against a cadre of colorful bad guys. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is very broad and laden with the kind of state-of-the-art special effects that make it look like every other action movie on the market, but at least no one involved takes the material too seriously. The DVD and Blu-ray don't add much value, offering as extras only a commentary track and a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
"Aliens in the Attic"
20th Century Fox, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99
A group of bickering suburbanite teens and pre-teens repel tiny invaders from space in "Aliens in the Attic," a harmless family action-comedy that hits the usual beats, as the interstellar crisis predictably brings the warring human characters together. The DVD and Blu-ray tacks on an alternate ending, deleted scenes and featurettes hosted by Ashley Tisdale, one of the movie's stars.
"Food, Inc."
Magnolia, $26.98; Blu-ray, $34.98
Robert Kenner's documentary "Food, Inc." aims to inform viewers about how the American food industry might slowly be killing us all -- or at least making us unwitting accomplices in widespread immorality. Kenner keeps "Food, Inc." straightforward and diverting, with music and graphics to help underscore the message. The lack of participation from the major food companies -- not for lack of asking on Kenner's part -- makes the movie feel one-sided, but there's a lot of vital information here. The DVD and Blu-ray add nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes, plus a bevy of public service announcements.
"I Love You, Beth Cooper"
20th Century Fox, $27.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
Teen comedy "I Love You, Beth Cooper" tries -- and fails -- to capture the light spirit and sense of community of '80s high school movies. After the nerdy valedictorian (Paul Rust) professes his love for one of the most popular girls in school (Hayden Panettiere), he spends a crazy night learning that hanging with the in crowd can be dangerous. Neither scripter Larry Doyle (who adapts his own novel for the screen) nor director Chris Columbus makes much effort to update this story for the '00s, and the film relies too much on worn-out "dorks vs. jocks" clichés. The DVD and Blu-ray come with an alternate ending, deleted scenes and a handful of featurettes.
"The Taking of Pelham 123"
Sony, $28.96; Blu-ray, $39.95
The 1974 thriller "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" was at once a clever caper movie about a band of subway-hijackers and a gritty, wry movie about New York in the early '70s. Director Tony Scott's 2009 remake is an entertaining throwback, though not so much to the '70s as the '90s, when Hollywood was rife with explosive action movies featuring smart everyman heroes and smooth-talking villains. In the new "Pelham," Denzel Washington plays the hero, a train dispatcher, and John Travolta is the villain, a vicious cynic who puts a $10-million price tag on his hostages. The DVD and Blu-ray include two commentary tracks and four featurettes about the challenges of revamping an old school New York movie for a post-9/11 world.
All titles available Tuesday.
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