Here’s a rare example of a remake that’s good: “3:10 to Yuma,” the Russell Crowe and Christian Bale Western about a dangerous gunslinger and a desperate farmer who form an uneasy alliance in the deadly frontier. While the original film was a winner, the remake is better, featuring an awesome performance by Crowe — but Bale manages to best him.
The DVD includes a making-of documentary, a handful of featurettes, deleted scenes and commentary from director James Mangold. While the Blu-Ray version has additional features, it’s still a good idea to wait for a special edition with more footage and extras.
Price: $29.95 standard definition; $39.99, Blu-Ray.
Rent or buy: Rent.
SUNSHINE
How does director Danny Boyle follow up the survival, end-of-the-world zombie horror film “28 Days Later”? Why, with a survival end-of-the-world science-fiction flick.
“Sunshine” takes place as the sun is dying. Humanity’s future resides with a specially designed spacecraft that has a bomb that could reignite the sun. But, as space travel never is easy, problems with the ship and crew occur soon after the voyage begins. The team discovers that a previous vehicle sent to refuel the sun got lost in the darkness — or is that brightness? — of space.
“Sunshine” is at its best when the beautiful special effects are the center of attention. The plot, despite an interesting premise, is razor-thin. There isn’t much in the way of extras on the DVD.
Price: $29.99 standard definition; $39.98, Blu-Ray.
Rent or buy: Rent.
GUNSMOKE — THE SECOND SEASON — VOLUME ONE
Unfortunately, Paramount Home Entertainment isn’t offering one complete package of the second season of the classic show. While it did a great job rolling out the first season of “Gunsmoke” in one set, the studio has gone back to the two-volume format for the second season.
It doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but “Gunsmoke” went on for 20 years — that’s 40 DVD sets to add to your collection, too many. Still, this is the only offering of second season. Fans will want it regardless.
Price: $36.99.
Rent or buy: Buy, if a fan.
ROB & BIG: THE COMPLETE UNCENSORED FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS
MTV’s latest odd couple consists of pro skater Rob Dyrdek and his bodyguard Christopher “Big” Boykin, who share a house in the Hollywood Hills. They have a crazy bulldog, a mini-horse and multitude of friends who hang out day and night.
The DVD includes 16 uncensored episodes, commentaries, deleted scenes and music videos.
Price: $39.99.
Rent or buy: Rent.
MAMMOTH
Even through they’re not the highest quality, the Sci-Fi Channel’s movies are enjoyable. “Mammoth” is a wacky tale about a 40,000-year-old woolly mammoth that comes back from the dead. The movie has decent CGI, acceptable acting and an above-average plotline.
Price: $19.98.
Rent or buy: Rent.
Other DVDs out Tuesday: “The Riches — Season One,” “Zodiac — Two-Disc Director’s Cut,” “Death Sentence,” “Two and Half Men — The Complete Second Season,” “Personal Best,” “Tell Me A Riddle,” “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter,” “Payday,” “Lovejoy: The Complete Season Two,” “The Ritz,” “All-New Super Friends Hour Season 1, Volume 1,” “Joshua,” “The Catherine Cookson Anthology,” “The Killing Floor,” “Maneater” and “Dragon Wars.”
