Cool commentary, hot thriller

Man on Fire

Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning

Fox, $30

Two-time Oscar winner Washington continues to grow and push himself as an actor; witness his exceptional performances this year as men on the edge, in “The Manchurian Candidate” and in this dark, often violent story set in Mexico City. Washington plays an alcoholic former special-ops assassin who finds redemption in the form of an endearing young girl (a winning Fanning) whom he is hired to guard. When she is kidnapped and presumedly murdered, Washington seeks revenge on every person connected to the kidnapping.

The digital edition includes commentary from director Tony Scott, who had attempted to make this film 22 years ago with Marlon Brando, and charming commentary from writer Brian Helgeland, producer Lucas Foster and Fanning.

*

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Matthew Lillard, Freddie Prinze Jr.

Warner Home Video, $28

Though “Monsters Unleashed” manages to be a smidgen better than the lamebrained 2002 original, the DVD is “Scooby-Dull.” The big question is: For what audience is this digital edition geared? It’s far too sophomoric for adults, and even kids may find themselves bored with such extras as a relentlessly unfunny mockumentary about the monsters from the film, or a flat behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Scooby. Director Raja Gosnell offers commentary on a few deleted scenes but fails to supply an audio track. The disc’s only decent extra is a mini documentary on how the animators created Scooby’s two dance sequences.

*

Baadasssss!

Mario Van Peebles, Joy Bryant

Columbia TriStar, $25

A fun, affectionate look back at the making of Melvin Van Peebles’ seminal 1971 independent black exploitation film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” Mario Van Peebles, who appeared in “Sweetback” at age 13, not only plays his father in the film, but he also produced it, co-wrote the screenplay and directed it with a great deal of style and verve.

The entertaining extras include a classy “making of” documentary that puts “Sweetback” into a political, historical and social context; a Q&A; with the still-outspoken Melvin Van Peebles taped at the American Cinematheque; clips from the movie’s L.A. premiere; and funny, often ribald commentary between father and son.

*

Young Adam

Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton

Columbia TriStar, $25

After making such Hollywood films as “Star Wars” and “Down With Love,” Scottish actor McGregor returned to his low-budget, indie roots in this erotically tinged drama about a failed writer who goes through life seducing and abandoning women. Working on a coal barge, he enters into a torrid affair with the barge’s married owner (Swinton). But even their passionate trysts can’t make him forget a former love (Emily Mortimer) whose drowning death he accidentally caused. McGregor gives one of his best performances in a film that was rated NC-17 when released earlier this year. The DVD features the R-rated version of the film but does include a more explicit cut of one of the sex scenes. Also included on the DVD is sampling of McGregor’s voice-over narration that eventually was scrapped and thought-provoking commentary from writer-director David MacKenzie, Swinton and others.