DVD previews: ‘Twilight Saga,’ ‘Red Dawn’

March 2

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2” (PG-13, 115 minutes, Lionsgate): For those with no vested interest in this protracted and supernatural soap opera, this will be a silly and somewhat cheesily made waste of time. It opens with our once-mortal heroine, Bella (Kristen Stewart), who has just given birth to a half-human, half-vampire baby, Renesmee, with her new, undead husband, Edward (Robert Pattinson). The story clicks in after word reaches the Volturi — the vampire world’s governing elite — that Renesmee may be a vampire baby who threatens to expose their carefully hidden vampire subculture. As Aro, the leader of the Volturi, Michael Sheen is a rare delight as he attempts to determine whether Edward and his family must be punished and Renesmee destroyed. It ain’t much, but it passes for drama — if by “drama” you mean a climactic showdown in a field of snow between the powerful, berobed Volturi and a ragtag band of the “good” vampires, now in league with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and his pack of giant CGI werewolves. Contains sensuality and violence. Extras: commentary with director Bill Condon; seven-part making-of documentary; “Two Movies at Once” featurette on the simultaneous shooting of both “Breaking Dawn” parts, “Jump to” features that allow viewers to watch only their favorite Edward or Jacob scenes; “The Forgotten” Green Day music video.

Also: “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1” (extended edition, with eight minutes of new footage added by Condon and commentary with Condon).

March 5

“Red Dawn” (PG-13, 94 minutes, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment): North Korean soldiers substitute for the original Soviet bad guys in a remake of the 1984 action film about high school kids from the American heartland forced to become guerrilla warriors when their small town is invaded. This amped-up retread is a big improvement over the original, but that’s not saying much. Much of the speechifying comes from Jed (Chris Hemsworth), a brooding Marine on home leave who is left in charge of his brother Matt (Josh Peck) and several of Matt’s teenage friends after they slip through the clutches of the brutal North Korean prefect. Jed quickly recruits the kids to the cause of resistance, and the rest of the film is spent showing their training and tactics as they evolve into a crack squad of freedom fighters. It’s moderately good fun, even if it comes with a heaping helping of baloney. The glibness and superficiality of the proceedings never allow us to care deeply about anything or anyone. Ultimately, the problem with this “Red Dawn” is the same problem with the first. Despite the more realistic battles, nothing feels more fateful than a football game. Contains obscenity, gunplay and violence. Extras: four making-of featurettes.

“Wreck-It Ralph” (PG, 108 minutes, Disney): The 3-D animated comedy is the story of a goofy bad guy out of a retro arcade game who “game jumps,” leaving his cloistered universe in search of fulfillment in other games. It’s a clever and original idea, with lots of cute sight gags. But the narrative itself is overly busy, noisy and unengaging, with little of the heart that charmed “Toy Story” viewers. The voice casting here works well. In the title role of a hulking destroyer who dreams of becoming a hero, John C. Reilly evokes the pathos of an outsider. And Sarah Silverman is pretty perfect as Vanellope von Schweetz, a tomboyish driver in a kiddie drag-racing game. Like Ralph, Vanellope aspires to video-game greatness. Their unexpected friendship is one of the nicest things about the movie. The tangled plot may please gamers who are used to processing complex, seemingly never-ending story lines, but it’s needless clutter in a movie geared toward a young audience. Contains mild video game violence and bathroom humor. Extras: “Bit by Bit: Creating the Worlds of Wreck-It Ralph” behind-the-scenes featurette; alternate and deleted scenes; video game commercials for Fix It Felix Jr., Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Hammer; “Paperman,” Oscar-winning animated short film that played in theaters before “Wreck It Ralph.” Also, on Blu-ray: “Disney Intermission: The Gamer’s Guide to Wreck-It-Ralph,” a series of 10 video segments offering an inside look at the many video game references, Disney references and other hidden surprises featured in the film.

“The Intouchables” (R, 112 minutes, in French with English subtitles, The Weinstein Co./Sony): A box-office smash in France, this is a feel-good movie about a distinctly feel-bad subject: quadriplegia. The fact-based story, which focuses on the relationship between Philippe (Francois Cluzet), a white millionaire paralyzed in a paragliding accident, and Driss (Omar Sy), the black hustler who becomes his live-in caregiver, neatly avoids most of the mess and stress of the subject. Aside from a scene or two hinting at Driss’ initial reluctance to change Philippe’s diapers, there’s little to suggest that there’s anything terribly disagreeable about the setup. The two go for breakneck car rides, goof around with shaving cream and, in general, have a great time. The lens through which the “The Intouchables” was filmed may be too rose-colored for some people’s taste, but the window that these talented performers throw open — a window onto the strange and touching friendship between two very different men — is crystal clear. Contains obscenity, drug use and some suggestive material. Extras: Deleted scenes.

Also: “Playing for Keeps,” “Lay the Favorite,” “The Bay,” “Garbage,” “California Solo,” “A Dark Truth,” “Interview With a Hitman,” “Midnight Stallion,” “Abducted: The Carlina White Story,” “Scavenger Hunt,” “The Yellow Brick Road and Beyond,” “Muay Thai Warrior” (2010, Thailand), “The Seven Year Hitch,” (Hallmark Channel), “Care Bears: Totally Sweet Adventures,” “Collaborator,” “The Marine 3: Homefront,” “Power Rangers: Clash of the Red Rangers — The Movie ,” “Sophia the First: Once Upon a Princess” (animated, Disney), “Tom and Jerry: Pint-Sized Pals,” “Tom and Jerry: Musical Mayhem,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Volume Ten,” “Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever” and “Eaters” (Italy).

Television series: “Duck Dynasty Season 2: Volume 1” (A&E), “Thorne” (Encore miniseries), “LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season 2” (Cartoon Network), “Murdoch Mysteries Collection: Seasons 1-4,” “Murdoch Mysteries: Season 5,” “H20: Just Add Water” (the complete seasons 1, 2 and 3, Teen Nickelodeon) and “Regular Show: Party Pack” (Cartoon Network).