T. rex helps thaw out ‘Ice Age’
- Share via
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
20th Century Fox, $29.98/$34.98; Blu-ray, $39.99
At times, this third go-round for the prehistoric mammals of the “Ice Age” franchise feels like a sitcom nearing the end of its run. Some characters are settling down and starting families, others are feeling jealous and shut out . . . it’s all a bit of a bummer for a kid flick. The movie improves, though, once the titular giant reptiles show up and the “Ice Age” crew discovers a lost world below the ice. The special edition DVD and Blu-ray come loaded with extras, including a commentary track, deleted scenes, interviews with the voice talent and bonus shorts featuring the slapstick character Scrat.
--
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Universal, $26.98; Blu-ray, $39.98
Those who already miss “Battlestar Galactica” -- and are growing impatient waiting for the prequel series “Caprica” -- should be happy with this two-hour movie that retells the events of the show’s first two seasons from the perspective of the human-hunting Cylons. Non-fans will find the movie -- written by Jane Espenson and directed by Edward James Olmos -- utterly baffling, but loyal viewers will want to pick up the DVD or Blu-ray, which runs a half-hour longer than the version that Syfy will televise in November, and adds deleted scenes, an Olmos/Espenson commentary and featurettes.
--
Orphan
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
The eccentric horror film “Orphan” stars Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as a stressed-out couple who adopt a Russian girl, only to see her immediately wreak havoc on her classmates and new family. For the first hour or so, “Orphan” is a fairly routine “creepy kid” movie, but then the story hits a twist that raises “Orphan” to a new level of camp craziness. Anyone who sticks with the movie to the end will want to check out the DVD and Blu-ray’s special features, which include deleted scenes, an alternate ending and a behind-the-scenes documentary.
--
The Prisoner
The Complete Series
A&E;, $69.95; Blu-ray, $99.95
Long before “Lost,” there was another cult TV show about a mysterious island. “The Prisoner,” co-created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, ran for 17 episodes in 1967 and ‘68, telling the mind-bending story of a retired secret agent who gets kidnapped by his former bosses and sent to a remote community for the most complicated debriefing in the history of covert ops. Just in time for AMC’s “Prisoner” remake, premiering in November, the original series arrives in a fully restored and remastered edition, with selected episode commentaries, alternate edits of two episodes, featurettes and a feature-length documentary about the show.
--
Whatever Works
Sony, $27.96; Blu-ray, $39.95
Woody Allen dusts off a script he wrote in the ‘70s and casts Larry David as a misanthropic genius who falls for a homeless Southern beauty queen played by Evan Rachel Wood. There’s definitely a warmed-over feel to the film, but David and Wood are surprisingly vibrant together, and for his first New York movie in years, Allen makes the city look warm and inviting -- a place where misfits can find what they need. This is a slight Allen effort, but a charming one. As is standard for Allen, the DVD and Blu-ray arrive devoid of special features.
--
And...
Medicine for Melancholy
MPI, $19.98
Nothing Like the Holidays
Anchor Bay, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98
You Weren’t There:
A History of Chicago Punk 1977-84
Factory 25, $24.95
--
All titles available Tuesday.
More to Read
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.