Recently Released DVDs

The following is a list of recently released DVDs. All capsule reviews have been taken from The Washington Post's Weekend section.

July 7

"Knowing" (PG-13, 110 minutes): John Koestler (Nicolas Cage), comes across a 50-year-old list of numbers that somehow seems to have predicted -- down to the precise date and location -- every major disaster of the last half-century, plus a few that haven't happened yet. His problems -- alcohol abuse, the recent death of his wife -- make him sound unhinged when he tries to warn people of the coming apocalypse. Yes, the film is creepy, at least for the first two-thirds or so, in a moderately satisfying, if predictable, way. But the narrative corner into which this movie, directed by Alex Proyas ("I, Robot"), paints itself is a simultaneously silly and morbidly depressing one. Well before the film neared its by turns dismal and ditzy conclusion, I found myself knowing -- yet hardly able to believe -- what was about to happen. Contains disturbing scenes of carnage and brief vulgar language. DVD Extras: Director commentary; featurettes.

"Push" (PG-13, 111 minutes): The premise here -- a hide-and-seek game between superhumans and a government agency in Hong Kong -- is old, but the execution is fresh, earnest and inoffensive. Dakota Fanning sheds her porcelain-doll image by playing Cassie, a grungy-haired, boot-wearing Watcher, or someone with the ability to divine and then sketch images from the future. Using that skill, she knows she must search out and team with a Mover named Nick (Chris Evans), who's hiding from a U.S. government agency called the Division. Together Cassie and Nick must snatch a briefcase from the Division or face certain death, according to Cassie's drawings of the future. The pleasure here comes from its glamorized grit, its no-nonsense pacing and the committed performances of the actors roughhousing in the gray area between heroism and villainy. Contains violence, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking. DVD Extras: Commentary with director and cast; deleted scenes; featurette.

"The Unborn" (PG-13, 96 minutes): This visually polished slice of hokum introduces us to Young Casey (Odette Yustman), who is troubled by visions of a creepy little kid with a really bad haircut. He seems to have something to do with Casey's dead mother, though her dad (B-movie veteran James Remar) pooh-poohs the idea. At first. Then one of Casey's babysitting charges, another creepy kid with an equally unfortunate haircut, gets into the act. Before long, Casey has persuaded her best friend and boyfriend to help her find the truth about her past. It turns out that "genetic mosaicism" is at the root of the problem. Jane Alexander and Gary Oldman are also on hand to add a little maturity to the proceedings. More important, the special effects crew does exemplary work. They use subtle distortions to show Casey's point of view. The often clunky, cliched script is not as effective, particularly in the stretch. Contains violence, strong language and frightening images. DVD Extras: Includes the rated and unrated versions of the film; deleted scenes.

Also on DVD July 7: "Beau Geste," "Five Fingers," "Murder She Wrote: Season 10," "The Universe: Season 2 (Blu-ray), Mystery Science Theater 3000: XV."

June 30

"Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience" (G, 76 minutes): Youngsters who adore the Jonas Brothers will have fun at this movie. It contains virtually nothing offensive, unless parents are bothered by the mildly sensual style of dance the Jonas boys do onstage or the hilariously Freudian foam spray they aim at their audience in one silly concert bit. For parents, here a critic's opinion, for what it's worth: The film is a contrived and commercial bit of nothing. Even the supposedly "candid" moments backstage or in hotel rooms come off as awkwardly staged, with the brothers unable even to fake spontaneity. Contains nothing objectionable. DVD Extras: 2-D extended movie with two additional performances; two additional bonus songs; featurette; Digital Copy of extended movie in 2-D.

"Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" (PG-13, 96 minutes): Though it's based on the arcade video game, this movie aims for a marginally coherent, humanized tale of good vs. evil in the martial arts genre. It is only semi-successful and too often a bore. One good thing: Kristin Kreuk (of TV's "Smallville"), who is effortlessly charming as Chun-Li, a young woman adept at martial arts. Chun-Li remembers her father's violent kidnapping. A mysterious scroll points to the man who took him, so Chun-Li studies with Gen (Robin Shou), a martial arts master, who goes with her to Bangkok in search of the evil Bison (Neal McDonough) and his enforcer. Contains violence and sensuality. DVD Extras: Contains both rated and unrated versions of the film; cast commentary; deleted scenes; featurettes.

"Tokyo!" (UR, 110 minutes): The city of Tokyo is the most obvious link between the three short films that make up this feature-length triptych. The first chapter, "Interior Design," begins with the arrival of a young couple into the world of crowded streets, heartless landlords and entry-level jobs. The comic yet nightmarish second installment, "Merde," takes us under the streets, where a psychopathic man takes refuge when he's not terrorizing the social world above. The final installment, "Shaking Tokyo," shows us a society of recluses, in retreat from the stress and strain of urban life. If there are thematic connections, they are abstract. All three films deal with things hidden, or disappearing, or suppressed. If you can't find real connections between its disparate stories, you can always make them up yourself. But if that kind of film frustrates you, think twice before booking a ticket to this destination. Contains mild violence. In Japanese with English subtitles.

"Two Lovers" (R, 108 minutes): In James Gray's quiet, unadorned romantic drama, Joaquin Phoenix is his old, clean-shaven self as Leonard Kraditor, a troubled young man who has moved back in with his parents in Brighton Beach. Torn between a gorgeous if unstable shiksa goddess (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the nice Jewish girl (Vinessa Shaw) his mom and dad are clearly crazy about, Leonard ultimately has to decide which self to express: the romantic but doomed artist or the settled but thwarted family man. Movies have visited this terrain before, from "The Graduate" to last year's wonderful "Momma's Man." But the film has its pleasures, too, even if Paltrow seems wildly out of place in a drama committed to adamantly un-starry realism. The movie's chief value is to preserve Phoenix at the height of his wary physical grace, which recalls a young Marlon Brando. Contains profanity, sexuality and brief drug use.

Also on DVD June 30: "12 Rounds," "Do the Right Thing: 20th Anniversary," "Eastbound & Down: Season 1," "The Human Contract," "Entourage: Season 5," "Monk: Season 5," "Stargate Atlantis: Season 5."