New DVDs: ‘Shrek the Third,’ ‘La Vie En Rose’

REVIEWS

By David Germain

updated 3:33 p.m. ET Nov. 26, 2007

“Shrek the Third”
The big green guy with the Scottish accent returns for another animated blockbuster. Voice stars Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as sidekick Donkey, Cameron Diaz as ogre bride Fiona and Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots are joined by Justin Timberlake, who provides vocals for teen cousin Artie, whom Shrek must groom to rule the realm as the future King Arthur. The DVD and HD DVD release include scenes the filmmakers dropped, a featurette with cast and crew interviews, a segment on the advances in computer animation that went into the new movie and a collection of computer gaffes where the animation went haywire. The disc also has an interactive yearbook with snippets on Artie’s school classmates, a handful of games and an editing feature allowing viewers to mix and match scenes from all three “Shrek” flicks. The HD DVD high-definition disc also allows fans to watch the movie with a picture-in-picture storybook reel. DVD, $29.99; HD DVD, $39.99. (DreamWorks) Read the review

“Ocean’s Thirteen”
George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and their light-fingered pals are back for a third heist romp. This time, the crew returns to Vegas, staging an elaborate ripoff in revenge against the casino owner (Al Pacino) who double-crossed one of the Ocean’s gang’s inner circle (Elliott Gould). The movie comes in standard DVD format, as a Blu-ray high-definition disc or in a combination disc with both the standard DVD and HD DVD versions. All three formats have deleted scenes, a documentary segment on the lavishness of Vegas and a featurette in which producer Jerry Weintraub leads a casino tour. The HD DVD and Blu-ray releases also have a segment on the art of the heist in the “Ocean’s” movies. DVD, $28.98; Blu-ray disc, $35.99; HD DVD combo disc, $39.99. (Warner Bros.) Read the review

“Paris, Je T’Aime,” “La Vie En Rose”

AP Sylvie Testud and Marion Cotillard star in the Edith Piaf biopic "La Vie en Rose."

Two jewels of France — the city of Paris and singer Edith Piaf — are given loving treatment. “Paris, Je T’Aime” rounds up an amazing group of filmmakers and actors to tell 18 short tales set in different parts of the city, with directors including Joel and Ethan Coen, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuaron, Alexander Payne and Gus Van Sant, and such performers as Nick Nolte, Gena Rowlands, Natalie Portman, Elijah Wood, Juliette Binoche and Steve Buscemi. The movie comes in a bare-bones single-disc release or a two-disc set whose extras include 18 separate making-of featurettes. “La Vie En Rose” stars Marion Cotillard as Piaf, a street urchin who rose from poverty to become the best-known voice of her country, living a life of triumph and tragedy. The movie is accompanied by a segment on Cotillard’s transformation into Piaf, which has earned the actress Academy Awards buzz. “Paris, Je T’Aime” single DVD, $28.98; two-disc set, $34.98. (First Look); “La Vie En Rose” DVD, $27.95. (HBO) Read the review of ‘La Vie En Rose.’ Read the review of ‘Paris, Je T’Aime’

“Amazing Grace”
Ioan Gruffudd, the infinitely flexible Mr. Fantastic of the “Fantastic Four” flicks, stretches his dramatic muscles for this period drama from director Michael Apted. Gruffudd stars as 18th century British politician William Wilberforce, who leads the movement to abolish the nation’s slave trade. The film is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes segment, a featurette on the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Chris Tomlin’s music video of the title song. Gruffudd and Apted collaborate for commentary. DVD, $29.98. (20th Century Fox)

“Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi epic celebrates its birthday with an elaborate 30th anniversary edition for the movie starring Richard Dreyfuss as an average guy who becomes one of a group of people fated to journey to the stars as aliens come to Earth to say hi to humanity. The new release packs the original 1977 theatrical cut, the re-edited special edition version released in 1980, and a final director’s cut that came out in 1998. The set includes a new interview with Spielberg, along with a 1977 featurette and a making-of segment. The 30th anniversary edition comes in a three-disc standard DVD set, while the Blu-ray release has all three versions on a single disc, with extras contained on a second disc. DVD set, $39.95; Blu-ray set, $49.95. (Sony)

“The Princess Bride”
Years before Shrek started turning fairy tales on their head, Rob Reiner’s love story in the land of make-believe was messing with storybook conventions. A 20th anniversary edition gives a DVD makeover to the romantic fantasy that stars Cary Elwes as a peasant boy turned dashing hero, Robin Wright as the imperiled maiden he loves, and Mandy Patinkin as a swordplay master on a mission of vengeance against the man who killed his father. The DVD comes with newly produced extras that include segments on fencing and folklore. There’s also a video role-playing game that allows viewers to take on the identity of the movie’s characters. DVD, $19.98. (MGM)

“Killer of Sheep: The Charles Burnett Collection”
Writer-director Charles Burnett’s feature-film debut kicked around film festivals for years since 1977 and finally got a commercial release this year, welcomed with great acclaim from critics. The minimalist tale follows the dreamlike musings and ramblings of a slaughterhouse worker in Los Angeles’ Watts area as he seeks respite from a harsh and unsatisfying life. Burnett offers commentary, and the film is accompanied by a cast reunion session. The two-disc set also has Burnett’s 1983 feature film “My Brother’s Wedding,” plus three earlier short films from the director and a new one on Hurricane Katrina. DVD set, $39.95. (Milestone)

TV on DVD:

“Yankeeography” — The documentary series offers a detailed chronicle of the most dynastic franchise in American sports. The 12-disc set packs all 34 episodes of the show on the New York Yankees and such fabled stars as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson. The set includes 10 hours of extra footage and interviews. DVD set, $99.95. (A&E)

“Melrose Place: The Third Season” — Heather Locklear schemes her way through another season in the prime-time soap opera about a group of neighbors in a trendy Los Angeles neighborhood. An eight-disc set has the third year’s 30 episodes. DVD set, $61.99. (Paramount)

“Perry Mason: Season 2, Volume 2” — Raymond returns as the ace defense attorney in the 1950s and ’60s courtroom drama. The four-disc set has the last 15 episodes from the second season. DVD set, $42.99. (Paramount)

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