‘Miracle’ comes out a winner

Miracle

Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson

Disney, $30

This dramatization of the historic gold-medal victory of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team wears its heart shamelessly on its sleeve and is pumped up with patriotic verve, but it manages to escape the glorified TV-movie tone. Thanks to crisp direction by Gavin O’Connor and a spot-on performance by Kurt Russell as the team’s determined coach Herb Brooks, “Miracle” turns out to be exciting, inspired entertainment. The real Brooks visited the production, but died last summer before he had a chance to see the completed film.

The two-disc DVD will appeal to both jocks and the sports-challenged. For movie lovers, there’s informative, often funny commentary from O’Connor, editor John Gilroy and director of photography Daniel Stoloff, as well as an above-average making-of documentary and a featurette about the casting. For hockey fans, there’s also footage of Brooks talking with Russell and the filmmakers, and an ESPN roundtable discussion with members of the 1980 team.

*

Torque

Martin Henderson, Ice Cube

Warner Bros., $28

This high-octane motorcycle flick puts your senses into overdrive but leaves your intellect in neutral. Martin Henderson, the ill-fated hunk from “The Ring,” plays a charismatic biker on the run from everybody -- the cops, a ruthless drug dealer and the leader of a bike gang. The dialogue and performances take back seat to the MTV-style edited action sequences.

The DVD’s extras are just a waste of time. There’s a music video, computerized storyboards of a few action sequences, frat-party commentary from director Joseph Kahn and his young cast and another commentary track with Kahn and members of his creative team.

*

Around the World in 80 Days

David Niven, Cantinflas

Warner Home Video, $27

With the Jackie Chan adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel about to hit the screen, Warner has released the 1956 version, which won the Oscar for best picture. David Niven stars as the punctual British perfectionist Phileas Fogg, who makes a bet with the members of his club that he can travel the world in 80 days. Along for the ride is his endearing, womanizing valet Passepartout, played by the great Mexican comedy star Cantinflas in his first English-language film. Part adventure, part romance, part travelogue, “Around the World in 80 Days” is tons of fun. It also stars a young Shirley MacLaine.

This was the only film produced by Mike Todd, the flamboyant entrepreneur and third husband of Elizabeth Taylor. Historian Robert Osbourne’s introduction, the informative commentary by BBC Radio’s Brian Sibley and the 1968 documentary “Around the World With Mike Todd” chronicle the remarkable story behind the production, including how Todd cajoled some 40 stars, from Frank Sinatra to Marlene Dietrich, to make brief appearances. Todd was the first to coin these appearances as “cameos.”

The double-disc DVD features a beautiful widescreen version of the film, a photo gallery, outtakes, newsreel footage from the 1957 Oscars and excerpts from a TV show on the one-year birthday party Todd threw for his film.

-- Susan King