'Batman Begins'
As if Heath Ledger's death and the inherent interest from rabid fans weren't enough to fan Batman mania for "The Dark Knight," the studio feeds the flames with a new DVD release and the Blu-ray high-definition debut of the 2005 hit film. Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne, the rich guy who moonlights as a masked vigilante with a tortured soul, in Christopher Nolan's acclaimed superhero tale. With the "Dark Knight" sequel hitting theaters July 18, the first flick returns in two-disc DVD and single-disc Blu-ray gift sets. Highlighting the Blu-ray extras is the "Dark Knight" prologue, the first six minutes of the new film, in which Ledger's Joker and a team of thieves in clown masks pull off a wild bank heist. Other bonus materials include a 32-page DC Comics adaptation of the movie prologue and five Batman postcards. The movie also is available as a basic Blu-ray release. 'Superhero Movie'
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And of course someone eventually was going to merge Hollywood's craze for superhero flicks and movie spoofs. This standard-issue spoof features Drake Bell, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Nielsen, Jeffrey Tambor and Pamela Anderson in the comic tale of a teen who's bitten by a mutant dragonfly (Spidey already laid claim to arachnids, you see) and gains superpowers, dons goofy tights and heads out to save the world. The movie is available in the theatrical version or an extended cut, with DVD extras that include deleted scenes, an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes segments and commentary with director Craig Mazin and producers David Zucker and Robert K. Weiss. 'Stop-Loss'
After a turn in Clint Eastwood's ensemble World War II tale "Flags of Our Fathers," Ryan Phillippe stars in a drama about contemporary combat, playing an Iraq war veteran who gets a "stop-loss" order — the U.S. military's policy of pressing troops back into service after their original stint is up. Directed by Kimberly Peirce ("Boys Don't Cry"), the film co-stars Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Abbie Cornish and Ciarán Hinds. The DVD has a large batch of deleted scenes, a making-of featurette and commentary with Peirce. 'The Ruins'
Rather than going to the beach for spring break like everyone else, a group of hapless young tourists decides to visit the jungles of Central America, where an ancient terror awaits them among the Mayan ruins. The cast of this fright flick includes Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore and Laura Ramsey. The DVD and Blu-ray releases include an alternate ending, a handful of deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews and commentary from director Carter Smith. TV on DVD
"The X-Files: Revelations" — With the second big-screen "X-Files" movie arriving July 25, series creator (and the film's director) Chris Carter picks eight episodes from the show's nine-year run and offers introductions explaining how each relates to the new flick. The two-disc set also has a panel discussion with Carter and stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.
"Cannon: Season One, Volume One"
"Jake and the Fatman: Season One, Volume One"
"Monk: Season Six"
"Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Fourth Season"
"Psych: The Complete Second Season"
"I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Fifth and Final Season"
"Soul Food: The Final Season"
"Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan: The Complete Third Season"
Coming soon
"The Bank Job" — Jason Statham ("The Transporter") and Saffron Burrows play criminals involved in a supposedly foolproof bank robbery that nets some unexpected loot and involves them in a net of deceit. The film is based on a true story from the 1970s. The DVD includes commentary, an inside look at the events that inspired the film and a making-of documentary.
"Step Up 2: The Streets" — Less a movie than an excuse for 98 minutes of astoundingly athletic B-boy dancing broken up with a few snippets of dialogue and overwrought drama, the film stars Briana Evigan as a girl from the 'hood who attends a prestigious arts school but feels drawn to her roots. The film is out on Blu-ray and DVD, and extras include deleted scenes and music videos.
— Phil Villarreal
