‘Munich’ plots its way onto DVD

REVIEWS

By David Germain

updated 3:01 p.m. ET May 8, 2006

“Munich”
Steven Spielberg’s gritty thriller about the aftermath of the massacre at the 1972 Olympics received a lukewarm critical and commercial reception. But the film rebounded at the Academy Awards, where it earned five nominations, including best picture. Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush and the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, star in the saga of a Mossad hit squad assigned to hunt and kill Palestinians linked to the terrorist siege that led to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The movie comes in a bare-bones single DVD with an introduction by Spielberg and a two-disc set packed with extras. Among the materials are segments on casting, music and editing, and the production design that went into one of the movie’s strong suits, re-creating the look and feel of the 1970s. The two-disc set also has a featurette examining the real events behind the film. Single DVD, $29.98; two disc set, $39.98. (Universal) Read the review

“Big Momma’s House 2”
Once more into the fat suit as Martin Lawrence finds an excuse to dress up as an overweight Southern matron again in this lame rehash of his 2000 comedy hit. Lawrence returns as an FBI agent who goes back undercover as Big Momma, a hefty grandma who takes a job as a nanny in the household of a man suspected of involvement in a national-security breach. The DVD comes with 12 deleted and extended scenes with commentary from the filmmakers. Director John Whitesell, producer David T. Friendly and co-star Zachary Levi team for commentary on the full movie, and the DVD has a making-of featurette. DVD, $29.98. (20th Century Fox) Read the review

“Nanny McPhee”

Universal Pictures / AP

Emma Thompson returns to screenwriting for the first time since winning an Academy Award for her script to “Sense and Sensibility,” this time crafting a cute, engaging adaptation of the “Nurse Matilda” children’s books. Thompson stars as a gnarly-looking nanny with magical powers and a mysterious mission to set things right in the home of a widower (Colin Firth) and his insanely rambunctious gang of children, who have driven 17 previous nannies screaming from the house. The DVD has an alternate opening and six other deleted scenes, two commentaries featuring Thompson, director Kirk Jones and the young actors and featurettes that include a look at the makeup job that went into uglifying Thompson. DVD, $29.98. (Universal) Read the review

“Rumor Has It”

Warner Bros.

Jennifer Aniston stars in last fall’s misfire that not only squanders her comic charm and an interesting premise, but also wastes the presence of Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine and Mark Ruffalo. Director Rob Reiner churns out a comedy that’s just not funny, focusing on a woman (Aniston) who returns home for her sister’s wedding and is set on a personal genealogical mission after learning her messed-up family may have been the inspiration for the book and film “The Graduate.” The studio did not bother tossing any DVD extras alongside the tepid movie. DVD, $28.98. (Warner Bros.) Read the review

“The New World”

New Line Cinema

When your television’s not otherwise occupied, toss in this DVD and freeze-frame just about any scene and you’ll have an instant work of art on display in your home. Terrence Malick’s hypnotic account of the colonial-era love triangle involving Pocahontas, Capt. John Smith and settler John Rolfe is a visual and aural feast, even if the drama can be emotionally off-putting and remote. Colin Farrell stars as Smith, Christian Bale plays Rolfe and newcomer Q’Orianka Kilcher is Indian princess Pocahontas in her encounters with Europeans in 17th century North America. The DVD includes a lengthy making-of documentary. DVD, $27.95. (New Line) Read the review

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