Looking deeper into the underworld

In “Constantine,” Keanu Reeves plays a cynical (sound familiar?), chain-smoking antihero who roams dark and gritty Los Angeles (isn’t it always?), hunting and eliminating demons who threaten to undo the balance of good and evil and unleash Satan from his realm into this unsuspecting world.

Extras on the two-disc “deluxe” set (Warner, $30) include amusing commentary by the director, Francis Lawrence, a former music video director making his debut feature, producer Akiva Goldsman, and screenwriters Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello; 18 minutes of deleted scenes and an alternate ending; and a music video.

“Production From Hell” and “Imagining the Underworld” galleries feature, among other things, a “director’s confessional” and information on the creation of relics and other props and effects for the film, which is based on the “Hellblazer” comic books.

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Also new this week:

“Ice Princess” (Disney, $30): Michelle Trachtenberg plays a high school physics geek who has a domineering mother (Joan Cusack) and discovers she has real talent for ice skating while working on a science project involving the sport. Extras include the requisite deleted scenes plus a weak alternate opening and giggling commentary from Trachtenberg and several of her costars.

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“Man of the House” (Sony, $27): This crude comedy -- one scene involves a cow and a cellphone -- wasn’t even shown to reviewers before it opened earlier this year. Tommy Lee Jones stars as a tough Texas Ranger assigned to protect a group of airhead college cheerleaders who witnessed a murder. The features are lame -- a sub-part “making of” documentary and an uninspired look at the actresses’ cheerleading training.

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“Michael Palin: Himalaya” (BBC. $50): Members of the Monty Python comedy group have all gone on to do diverse projects, and Palin has found his niche as an engaging, intelligent travel guide.

His newest documentary series, which premiered last month on the Travel Channel, follows his fascinating 2,000-mile journey across the majestic Asian region. More than two hours of extra footage, plus a pre-trip introduction and a lengthy post-trip interview with Palin round out the extras.

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“Cleopatra 2525” (Universal, $50): In this silly syndicated fantasy action series from 2000-2001, Jennifer Sky plays an exotic dancer cryogenically frozen in 2001 who is thawed out in 2525 and joins two scantily clad female warriors to battle evil robots. Extras include deleted scenes, outtakes and a look at the special effects and stunts.

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“Earth 2: The Complete Series” (Universal, $50): Though the NBC sci-fi series only lasted the 1994-95 season, the intriguing drama has developed a cult following. The extras are pretty meager: a blooper reel and some deleted scenes.

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“Imax: Space Station” (Warner, $40): Originally released in 3-D in 2002, this documentary explores the complicated construction of the international space station. Shot primarily by the astronauts, the film also looks at the day-to-day life aboard the station.

Tom Cruise supplies the intense narration.

The extras nicely complement the film -- two fun astronaut-guided audio-visual tours of the space station, a stills gallery, the featurette “Adventures in Space” and compelling commentary from director Toni Myers and astronaut Marsha Ivins, who was responsible for a lot of the breathtaking footage.

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“Up and Down” (Sony, $30): The entertaining ensemble comedy-drama from director Jan Hrebejk was the official Czech Republic entry for the 2004 Academy Awards. Included are music video and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

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“Producing Adults” (Wolfe, $25): Uneven Finnish comedy-drama about a longtime married couple at the crossroads of their relationship. She wants a baby; he doesn’t. When she discovers he’s gotten a vasectomy, she decides to take matters into her own hands, with surprising results.

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DVD sales

Here are the 10 top-selling DVDs for the week ending July 10. Rankings are compiled from a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Blockbuster and Circuit City.

1. ‘Hide and Seek’

2. ‘The Pacifier’

3. ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’

4. ‘Hitch’

5. ‘Hostage’

6. ‘Coach Carter’

7. ‘Chappelle’s Show: Second Season’

8. ‘I Can Do Bad All by Myself’

9. ‘Cursed’

10. ‘Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous’

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Source: DVDExclusive.com