DVD previews: ‘Wolverine,’ ‘Smurfs 2’
Here’s a look at DVD releases for Tuesday, Dec. 3:
“The Wolverine” (PG-13, 131 minutes, Fox): A cocktail of action-movie staples, “The Wolverine” combines the bracingly adult flavor of everyone’s favorite mutant antihero — tortured, boozy X-Man Logan, aka Wolverine — with the fizzy effervescence of Japanese genre cinema. It packs a punch, erasing the memory of the 2009 stinker “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” After a brief prologue, the film opens on Logan (Hugh Jackman) living in a squalid encampment in the woods, where he’s plagued by nightmares starring his late lady love, Jean Grey. In short order, however, our hero is on his way to Tokyo, escorted by Yukio (Rila Fukushima), a magenta-haired Harajuku girl. A mutant with the ability to foretell people’s deaths, she’s a great character. Contains violence, obscenity and brief sensuality. Extras include “Inspiration: A Ronin’s Journey” featurette. Also, on Blu-ray: alternate ending, X-Men set tour, “The Path of the Ronin” featurette and interactive “Second Screen” experience. A four-disc Unleashed Extended Edition also includes a 3-D version, extended, unrated cut and commentary by director James Mangold.
“The Smurfs 2” (PG, 105 minutes, Sony): Midway through Raja Gosnell’s “Smurfs” sequel, Grumpy Smurf turns over a new leaf and starts to view the world through rose-colored glasses. He even adopts the nickname Positive Smurf. His outlook must be contagious, because “The Smurfs 2” seems more enjoyable than Gosnell’s 2011 family feature. Daddy dilemmas plague our blue heroes this time out. Smurfette (voiced by pop star Katy Perry) feels like an outcast in the cheerful Smurf village and wonders whether she’s better off with her “birth” father — the evil wizard, Gargamel (Hank Azaria). Meanwhile, human Smurf allies Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace Winslow contend with the arrival of Patrick’s self-centered father-in-law (Brendan Gleeson). And in Paris, Gargamel and his dishwater-gray minions have hatched a scheme to kidnap Smurfette and steal the essence that turned her blue. Extras include deleted scenes and “Daddy’s Little Girl: The Journey of Smurfette.” Also, on Blu-ray: “The Puurrfect Companion: Azreal’s Tail,” “Evolution of the Naughties” and “The Tale of Hackus and Vexy” featurettes and mini-movie “The Legend of Smurfy Hollow.”
“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” (PG-13, 130 minutes, Sony): The main protagonist in “The Mortal Instruments,” based on a series of novels by Cassandra Clare, is Clary (Lily Collins), a teenager who begins drawing strange symbols in her sleep and seeing violent images that her best friend, Simon (Robert Sheehan), cannot. It turns out Clary is a shadow hunter, a half-human, half-angel predestined to track and kill demons. Her realization coincides with the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey). To find her mom, Clary teams with Simon and another shadow hunter, the snarky, smoldering Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower). Contains violence and some suggestive content. Extras include deleted scenes, a featurette on the stunts and music video by Ariana Grande. Also, on Blu-ray: “Interactive Lineage Tracker,” making-of featurette, “Entering the Shadow World” featurette and “Into the Shadows: From Book to Screen.”
Also: “Drinking Buddies,” “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” (2006), “Winnie Mandela,” “Things Never Said,” “Good Ol’ Freda,” “Far From Vietnam” (1967), “Marvel’s Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United!” “Wings of a Warrior: The Jimmy Doolittle Story,” “A Christmas Tree Miracle,” “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (1970), “Nashville” (1975), “Il Futuro (The Future)” (Italy) and “Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Collector’s Edition.”
Television series: “Duck Dynasty: Seasons 1-3 Collector’s Set,” “Hawaii Five-O: The Complete Series” (1968-1980), “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman: The Complete Series” (1976-78), “Transformers Prime: Season Three — Beast Hunters,” “Hot in Cleveland: Season Four” and “The Simpsons Season 16.”