DVD reviews: ‘Prince Caspian,’ ‘Wanted’

REVIEWS

By David Germain

updated 2:00 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2009

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
The Pevensie kids and their talking lion pal (voiced by Liam Neeson) meet again in the follow-up to “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” The new installment of the C.S. Lewis fantasy adaptation casts the Pevensies (William Moseley, Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell and Skandar Keynes) into the company of a new ally, Caspian (Ben Barnes), heir to the throne of Narnia, which has been hurled into dark times under a tyrannical ruler. Director Andrew Adamson and cast members provide commentary on single-disc and two-disc DVD releases and two-disc and three-disc Blu-ray editions. Other extras on the multi-disc sets include deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews and a tour of the movie’s locations. The three-disc Blu-ray release also has a digital copy of the movie for portable video players. Single DVD, $29.99; two-disc DVD set, $39.99; two-disc Blu-ray set, $35.99; three-disc Blu-ray set, $39.99. (Disney) Read the review.

“Wanted”

Video   ‘Wanted’ An apathetic nobody (James McAvoy) is transformed into a hero when the mysterious Fox (Angelina Jolie) recruits him into a secret society and shows him his powers. Buena Vista Pictures

Angelina Jolie takes up arms in this action tale about a team of assassins using their super-human abilities — and an ancient loom that spells out victims’ names — to weed out unwanted people. Jolie and her boss (Morgan Freeman) recruit a loser (James McAvoy) and train him to use his dormant talents to go after a rogue member of their group. The movie comes in single-disc and two-disc DVD editions, a Blu-ray release and in collector’s sets with a photo booklet, movie postcards and a framed 3-D film cell. Among the extras are an extended scene, segments on stunts and visual effects and a featurette on adapting the story from its graphic-novel roots. The Blu-ray edition also has an alternate opening for the movie. Single DVD, $29.98; two-disc DVD set, $34.98; Blu-ray, $39.98; DVD “Collector’s Set,” $64.98; Blu-ray “Collector’s Set,” $69.98. (Universal) Read the review.

“Step Brothers”

Video   'Step Brothers' Two slacker adults (Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly) who both live at home become step brothers and are forced to share a room.

“Talladega Nights” colleagues Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and director Adam McKay reunite for this comedy about sibling rivalry and bonding. Ferrell and Reilly play middle-aged slackers living lazily at home, one with his dad (Richard Jenkins), the other with his mom (Mary Steenburgen), whose marriage forces the two into unwanted step-brotherhood. Single-disc and two-disc DVD releases and the Blu-ray have both the R-rated theatrical cut and an unrated extended version. Other extras include deleted scenes, commentary with Ferrell, Reilly and McKay and a making-of segment. The two-disc DVD set and Blu-ray release also have a digital copy of the movie. Single DVD, $28.96; two-disc DVD set, $34.95; two-disc Blu-ray set, $39.95. (Sony) Read the review.

“The X-Files: I Want to Believe”

Video   'X-Files: I Want to Believe' David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return for a new big screen adventure. Buena Vista Pictures

David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and series creator Chris Carter believed in this second big-screen take on the creepy TV show, but audiences didn’t as the movie came and went with barely a ripple. Directed by Carter, the movie reunites Duchovny’s Mulder and Anderson’s Scully in their post-FBI days, the bureau enlisting them to help on a missing-persons case with ghoulish Frankenstein overtones. Single-disc and three-disc DVD editions and the Blu-ray release have the PG-13 theatrical version and an unrated extended cut, with deleted scenes and commentary from Carter and co-writer Frank Spotnitz. The three-disc DVD set and Blu-ray edition also have a behind-the-scenes documentary and a digital copy of the movie. Single DVD, $29.98; three-disc DVD set, $34.98; Blu-ray, $39.99. (20th Century Fox) Read the review.

“The Longshots”
Ice Cube hits the sidelines in this sports tale about the first girl to play Pop Warner football, a league that was previously a boys-only club. Cube plays a coach who drafts his niece (Keke Palmer) to take over as quarterback, her natural athletic ability lifting the team from also-rans to championship contenders. The DVD and Blu-ray releases come with a huge collection of deleted scenes, a making-of segment, chats with Ice Cube and director Fred Durst and a featurette on the real Pop Warner star who was the basis for Palmer’s character. DVD, 28.95; Blu-ray, $34.99. (Genius)

TV on DVD:

“Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fourth Season” — John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner and the rest of the cast are back in the early days of the late-night comedy show. The seven-disc set packs year four’s 20 episodes. DVD set, $69.98. (Universal)

“Law & Order: The Sixth Year” — Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, Jill Hennessey and new cast member Benjamin Bratt lead the cast as prosecutors and cops who take cases from arrests through trials. A five-disc set has season six’s 23 episodes. DVD set, $59.98. (Universal)

“Perry Mason: Season 3, Volume 2” — Raymond Burr heads back to court as the ace defense attorney in the long-running legal drama. A four-disc set has the last 14 episodes from the third season. DVD set, $50.99. (Paramount)

“Cannon: Season One, Volume Two,” “Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Volume Two” — Two crime dramas starring William Conrad resume their DVD afterlife. Conrad stars as a tough L.A. detective in “Cannon” and as an equally tough L.A. prosecutor in “Jake and the Fatman.” The sets pack the second half of each show’s first season. DVD sets, $37.99 each. (Paramount)

“Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interviews” — David Frost made television history with his 1977 Richard Nixon interviews. Timed to the theatrical release of Ron Howard’s drama “Frost/Nixon” starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, this release presents the frank exchange between the men on the Watergate break-in and cover-up that led to Nixon’s resignation. DVD, $24.95. (Liberation)

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