A moving ‘Apes’ back story

Rise of the Planet

of the Apes

20th Century Fox, $29.98;

Blu-ray, $39.99

--

One of the happiest surprises of 2011, the prequel “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” doesn’t just provide an explanation for how the humans of Earth fell to simian rule; it tells its own thrilling and unexpectedly emotional story about a chimpanzee named Caesar (played in motion-capture by Andy Serkis), who develops superior intelligence and uses it to lead a group of imprisoned apes on a rampage through San Francisco. The scenes with the humans -- featuring James Franco as the scientist who helped raise Caesar -- tend toward the clunky and expository, but the scenes of Caesar’s ascension are pure cinema, conveying pathos and complication with scarcely any dialogue. The DVD and Blu-ray add deleted scenes, featurettes and a commentary track by director Rupert Wyatt.

--

Fright Night

Walt Disney, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99/$49.99

--

Some horror remakes make sense because they’re based on recognizable properties that are easy to update. The new “Fright Night,” though, is an odd one, since the 1985 original was such a quirky little movie. It was written and directed by Tom Holland, who turned it into a semi-comic homage to classic TV late, late shows. The remake by screenwriter Marti Noxon and director Craig Gillespie is more of a straightforward vampire flick, starring Colin Farrell as a vicious vamp who moves next door to a typical suburban teen played by Anton Yelchin. The movie is solidly entertaining and even funny at times, but it lacks the personal touch of Holland’s original. The DVD and Blu-ray include featurettes and deleted scenes.

--

Kung Fu Panda 2

Lionsgate, $29.99; Blu-ray, $49.99

--

As with most sequels, the animated martial arts comedy “Kung Fu Panda 2” tries too hard to replicate what its creators mistakenly think was the appeal of the original: in this case, the awkwardness of a Jack Black-voiced panda fumbling his way toward saving the good people of ancient China from a despot. The touchy-feely, “find inner peace” aspects of the film never really connect, but the actual highlights of the franchise -- the masterfully choreographed fight sequences -- are just as exciting in the second film as they were in the original. The DVD and Blu-ray come well-stocked with deleted scenes, fun featurettes, a commentary track and an episode of the new “Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness” Nickelodeon series.

--

Meet Me in St. Louis

Warner Bros. Blu-ray, $35.99

--

Based on Sally Benson’s “5135 Kensington” stories, the 1944 MGM classic “Meet Me in St. Louis” takes place over the course of one year in the life of a middle-class, middle-American family, as they look forward to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and dread an impending move to New York City. “Meet Me in St. Louis” is pure spun-candy Americana, but with a darker side too, as the family’s children come to terms with their powerlessness in a world made for adults. And star Judy Garland’s sparkling plainness embodies the movie’s message, which assured wartime audiences that nothing in the world could match the sweet stew of disappointment and happiness found at home. The Blu-ray is loaded with goodies, including a commentary track by Garland biographer John Fricke and a bonus CD containing the movie’s classic tunes “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

--

And ...

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

MPI, $24.98

--

Circumstance

Lionsgate, $27.98

--

Detective Dee

and the Mystery

of the Phantom Flame

Indomina, $19.97; Blu-ray, $29.95

--

Eames: The Architect

and the Painter

First Run, $29.95

--

calendar@latimes.com