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'Ice Age: Dawn of The Dinosaurs': 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 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. (20th Century Fox). Tribune rating: **
'Orphan': The eccentric horror film "Orphan" stars Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as a stressed-out couple who adopt a Russian girl, who immediately wreaks 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. (Warner) Tribune rating: **
'Whatever Works': 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. From the May-December romance to the long rants about the stupidity of human beings, "Whatever Works" could be the work of a Woody Allen imitator. 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. ( Sony) Tribune rating: * 1/2
'Battlestar Galactica: The Plan': Those who already miss "Battlestar Galactica" — and are growing impatient waiting for the prequel series "Caprica" — should be happy with "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan," a two-hour movie that retells the events of the show's first two seasons from the perspective of the human-hunting Cylons. Written by Jane Espenson and directed by Edward James Olmos, "The Plan" combines clips from old "BSG" episodes with new scenes that reveal how the malevolent Cylons used the oblivious "Final Five" to advance their goals.
Non-fans will find the movie 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. (Universal) Tribune rating: * 1/2
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. (20th Century Fox). Tribune rating: **
'Orphan': The eccentric horror film "Orphan" stars Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as a stressed-out couple who adopt a Russian girl, who immediately wreaks 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. (Warner) Tribune rating: **
'Whatever Works': 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. From the May-December romance to the long rants about the stupidity of human beings, "Whatever Works" could be the work of a Woody Allen imitator. 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. ( Sony) Tribune rating: * 1/2
'Battlestar Galactica: The Plan': Those who already miss "Battlestar Galactica" — and are growing impatient waiting for the prequel series "Caprica" — should be happy with "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan," a two-hour movie that retells the events of the show's first two seasons from the perspective of the human-hunting Cylons. Written by Jane Espenson and directed by Edward James Olmos, "The Plan" combines clips from old "BSG" episodes with new scenes that reveal how the malevolent Cylons used the oblivious "Final Five" to advance their goals.
Non-fans will find the movie 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. (Universal) Tribune rating: * 1/2
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