DVD Corner

“Batman Begins: Limited Gift Edition” DVD, Blu-ray: One of the best superhero movies, period, now in a comprehensive gift set that arrives just in time for the theatrical release of its sequel, “The Dark Knight,” on July 18. Christopher Nolan’s intense, beautifully crafted movie finds Christian Bale easily making the iconic bat suit his own. A quick glance at Nolan’s films (“Memento,” “Insomnia,” “The Prestige”) suggests an emerging theme that “Batman Begins” embraces – the idea that all of us wear masks. Whether it’s at work or in our relationships, at the grocery story or at the gas pump, what haunts us, what angers us, what worries us and consumes us is carefully concealed behind a protective veneer of benign expression. For Nolan, it’s the peeling away of that mask that excites him, the search for truth that intrigues him. And so, not surprisingly, this story of what lurks behind a legendary superhero’s mask proves the perfect match for his talents and interests. Rated: PG-13. Grade: A

“I Dream of Jeannie: Season Five”: Hardly for the feminist – the lot of it is pure male fantasy – though when it comes to kitsch, it’s tough to beat this ’60s throwback. It’s this season in which Jeannie (Barbara Eden) finally marries her master, Maj. Nelson (Larry Hagman). Just typing the words “finally marries her master” feels otherworldly, but there you have it – those were the times in which the show existed. That said, what this fifth season underscores is the chemistry between Eden and Hagman, which was as hot as Jeannie’s pink pantaloons. As Tony’s friend Roger, Bill Daily and his leering inappropriateness throw this enduring show further off-kilter. A guest appearance by Farrah Fawcett kicks it to the moon. Grade: B+

“Monk: Season Six”: Germ-free – at least when it comes to the writing and acting, which are solid. The sixth season of this unusual detective show finds Tony Shalhoub settling further into his niche as Adrian Monk, the reluctant, San Francisco-based detective whose obsessive-compulsive disorder, complicated by his wife’s death, actually helps him solve mysteries. He’s so hyper-aware of his surroundings, he’s able to see clues others can’t see. Echoes of “Columbo” abound, but this smart, entertaining show continues to stand alone. Grade: B+

“The Ruins” DVD, Blu-ray: Don’t drink the water – and God knows, don’t mess with the pyramids, the plant life or the unwelcoming Mayans. At least that’s the case in “The Ruins,” a sometimes tense, mostly silly horror movie set in Mexico. It’s based on the book by Scott Smith, whose “A Simple Plan” was superior to anything on display here. Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Jonathan Tucker and Shawn Ashmore are the four annoying Americans who come into all sorts of bloody trouble when one man (Joe Anderson) entices them to visit one particularly invasive tomb. Lots of screaming, scrambling, bloodletting and crawling ensues. Rated R. Grade: C+

“Stop-Loss”: From Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”), a flawed yet effective movie that explores the ramifications of the U.S. government’s “stop-loss” policy, which allows for troops to repeatedly be sent back into combat in Iraq. The film’s flaws don’t come down to its performances – Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Victor Rasuk and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are excellent – but to its lack of focus. The subject is almost too much for Peirce to handle, and so she wavers, shifting her attention between so many issues – not the least of which involves Staff Sgt. Brandon King (Phillippe) returning home to small-town Texas only to learn that he’s about to be deployed again – that her film loses momentum the moment King goes AWOL. Still, it’s an earnest effort on a timely topic that does succeed in exposing the controversial policy on which the story hinges. Rated R. Grade: B-

Also new (and recommended) on DVD this week:

In addition to the limited gift edition of “Batman Begins,” fans of the Dark Knight might also want to check out three new titles focusing on the character – the smart, two-disc set of “Batman: Gotham Knight,” which also is available on Blu-ray and stands as the first-ever animated Batman movie to be rated PG-13 (which it earns); “Batman: Complete Fifth Season,” where the animation might be less polished, but the storylines are just as involving; and the 1966 camp classic “Batman: The Movie,” with Adam West and Burt Ward bumbling within the ongoing buffoonery. You’ll also find the latter title on Blu-ray, where the 1960s, certainly among the haziest of eras, never has looked quite so clear. Additional titles new to DVD include several worthwhile television shows, with highest marks going to the animated “Teen Titans: Complete Fifth Season,” William Conrad as private investigator Frank Cannon in “Cannon: Season One, Vol. 1,” an entirely different form of sleuthing in “Psych: Complete Second Season,” as well as “Fastlane: The Complete Series,” which is an over-the-top trash crime show – but in a good way. Michael Douglas and Karl Malden work through a grittier brand of detective work in the popular 1970s television show “The Streets of San Francisco: Season Two, Vol. 1”; the final season of “Soul Food” neatly wraps up the lives of the Joseph family; and then there’s “X-Files: Revelations,” which hits shelves just in time for the July 25 release of the new movie, “X-Files: I Want to Believe.”

WeekinRewind.com is the site for Bangor Daily News film critic Christopher Smith’s blog, video podcasts, iTunes portal and archive of hundreds of movie reviews. Smith’s reviews appear Mondays, Fridays and weekends in Lifestyle, as well as on bangordailynews.com. He may be reached at Christopher@weekinrewind.com.