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New DVD releases

The following movies were released to DVD on July 21.

Published: July 24. 2009 4:00AM PST

“Coraline” — The movie, adapted from Neil Gaiman’s enormously successful book of the same name, follows 11-year-old Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning), whose wish to replace the adults in her life leads to a nightmarish experience in a parallel universe. She finds herself in another world where charming replicas of her parents invite her to live with them. There’s a major hitch, of course. Coraline’s “Other Mother” (Teri Hatcher) makes her a prisoner and demands unyielding devotion. For all its visual delights, however, the film remains more an engaging spectacle than a connective drama. Director-writer Henry Selick doesn’t reach for the kind of universality that would enrich the movie. Rating: Three stars. (PG)

“The Great Buck Howard” — Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is a vaudevillian mentalist who gets through each day by reliving his best moments from 30 years ago, even though the rest of the world has moved on. Colin Hanks plays Buck’s assistant, who caters to his strange needs and helps maintain his boss’ delusion that he is still a beloved personality. Rating: Three and a half stars. PG)

“Watchmen” — The film, like the 1986 graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, follows the tormented daily lives of a ragtag band of retired superheroes caught up in a plot to save the Earth, and themselves, from the machinations of a self-appointed savior of mankind. The gang’s all here: the psychotically righteous Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), the dangerously smart Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) and the shape-shifting blue nudist with seemingly limitless power, Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup). DVD Extras: Extended cut of the film; split screen commentary from director Zack Snyder; featurettes. Rating: Four stars. (R)

COMING UP: Movies scheduled for national release July 28 include “Fast & Furious,” “Dragonball: Evolution” and “Miss March.” Check with local video stores for availability.

— The Washington Post (ratings by Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times)

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