Saluting Russian heroes

“K-19: The Widowmaker”

Harrison Ford; Liam Neeson

Paramount: $30

Kathryn Bigelow directed this overlong but compelling submarine thriller based on the true story of the brave crew of Russian’s first nuclear submarine, who in 1961 saved the world from a nuclear catastrophe by repairing an exposed reactor core on the ship. The DVD is watchable but offers no extraordinary goodies. There are some short, pedestrian featurettes on the making of the film, the special effects and makeup. The best mini-doc deals with scrupulous attention to detail that went into the production of the film, including building the movie sub from the original blueprints for the K-19. Rounding out the disc is often-passionate commentary from Bigelow and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth.

*

“Stuart Little 2”

Geena Davis; the voice of Michael J. Fox

Columbia TriStar: $25 for VHS; $28 for DVD

Charming sequel to the 2000 hit adaptation of the E.B. White classic story about the quirky Little family, who adopt a talking mouse (voice of Fox). This time around, Stuart befriends an orphaned bird named Margalo (voice of Melanie Griffith), who is actually working for the villainous Falcon (voice of James Woods). Nathan Lane also returns as the voice of the wisecracking, long-suffering Little cat, Snowbell. Rob Minkoff, who directed the first film, also helmed this sequel, which seamlessly combines live-action and computer-generated characters. The pleasant DVD includes interactive games, a music video, behind-the-scenes documentaries, a special track that offers more small production features and fascinating commentary from Minkoff and senior special visual effects supervisor Jerome Chen.

*

“Like Mike”

Lil’ Bow Wow, Morris Chestnut

Fox: $20 for VHS; $28 for DVD

The pint-size rap star headlines this nonthreatening kids’ film about a 14-year-old orphan who, when he puts on a pair of hand-me-down sneakers that belonged to Michael Jordan, becomes a basketball player extraordinaire. He leads the struggling L.A. Knights to a battle for the national championship. Jonathan Lipnicki (who also is in “Stuart Little 2”), Crispin Glover, Eugene Levy and NBA stars also appear. The digital edition is kids’ stuff, with a couple of short featurettes, deleted scenes, a music video and boring commentary from director John Schultz, Bow Wow and Lipnicki.

-- Susan King