This Bond leaves you wanting more

Daniel Craig brought the 45-year-old James Bond series into the 21st century with his gritty, sexy turn as 007 in “Casino Royale” (Sony, $29).

The two-disc “special edition,” though, is strictly 20th century. It’s not that the two main featurettes -- “Becoming Bond” and “James Bond: For Real,” which looks at the gravity-defying stunts -- are bad; the DVD is just short on real extras.

Where’s the audio commentary with Craig or director Martin Campbell, deleted scenes or outtakes? Guess they’re saving those for a “more special edition” to squeeze extra money out of the movie.

David Ayer has written tough-nosed scripts for such films as “Training Day.” He makes his feature directing debut with an equally raw-edged thriller, “Harsh Times” (Weinstein, $29).

Christian Bale plays an ex-Army Ranger who slips back into his old life of crime after he is rejected for a job as a cop with the Los Angeles Police Department. Freddy Rodriguez plays his best friend.

Just like the two main characters, Ayer also grew up on the streets of South Los Angeles. Extras include deleted scenes and astute commentary from Ayer.

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Also new

“I Love Lucy -- The Complete Seasons 7-9” (Paramount, $30): Though it was still the No. 1 series on television at the end of the 1956-57 season, the classic CBS sitcom shut down production. The stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (who was also the producer), were tired of the weekly grind. So over the next three years, they starred in 13 hourlong specials -- “Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Shows.”

This four-disc set includes an uncut version of the premiere special, “Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana,” which hasn’t been seen since the original broadcast, several deleted scenes, flubs, the original openings and closings, color set footage from 1951 and a fascinating 40-minute sponsor presentation the cast made for Westinghouse.

And: “Shortbus” (ThinkFilm, $28): “Burmese Harp” (Criterion, $30); “Fires on the Plain” (Criterion, $30); “Muriel” (Koch Lorber, $25); “La Belle Captive” (Koch Lorber, $25).

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susan.king@latimes.com