Publications & Sites 
New releases on DVD, Blu-ray
The zoo gang in "Madagascar 3."
Article Extras
Updated: October 19, 2012 11:09AM
NEW THIS WEEK
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED
★★
Rated
PG for some mild action and rude humor
Stars
Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith
In the “Madagascar”-verse, it’s energy and oomph that matters, and enough general silliness to keep youngsters giggling, even during the de rigeur moral lessons — and there’s enough of all three in this third installment to power “M3” to another half-billion-dollar box office take. Even though inspiration is more sadly lacking than ever and the whole enterprise has an air of frantic desperation. This outing has the four Central Park zoo refugees fleeing across Europe from a demented animal control officer (voiced by Frances McDormand), while hiding in a down-and-out circus. Extras include commentary and deleted scenes.
MOONRISE KINGDOM
★★★½
Rated
PG-13 for sexual content and smoking
Stars
Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand
Instead of his usual whimsical (and somewhat bitter) tales of adults who haven’t quite left childhood behind, idiosyncratic auteur Wes Anderson’s (“The Royal Tenenbaums”) “Moonrise Kingdom” is a tale of two runaway love-struck ’tweens who literally can’t wait to grow up — and whose passion for romance generates considerable quirky charm. Newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward strike just the right note of intensely serious, grand passion while a search party of desperately disillusioned grown-ups provide poignant emotional contrast. Extras include the featurette “Welcome to the Island of New Penzance” and a set tour with Bill Murray.
ALSO NEW THIS WEEK
THAT’S MY BOY
After raising his son (Andy Samberg) as a teenage single father, a man (Adam Sandler) disappears on the boy’s 18th birthday, only to reappear and raise havoc later in life. Sean Anders (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) directed the comedy.
BILL MOYERS: A WORLD OF IDEAS II — GREAT THINKERS
In this late-’80s series, the PBS journalist sits down with the likes of Noam Chomsky, Jonas Salk, Cornel West and Henry Steele for conversations about their work and the issues of the day. The three-disc set features a 12-page viewer’s guide.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
This five-part documentary series, hosted by professor Stephen Hawking, travels the globe while exploring recent advancements in medicine, machines, technology, the environment and physics.
CAGNEY & LACEY: THE COMPLETE SERIES
This 32-disc box set collects 119 episodes of the award-winning ’80s show about two female detectives (Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless) as a 30th anniversary celebration. A pricier limited-edition set includes an additional 29 hours of bonus features including the original 1981 TV movie (featuring Loretta Swit of “MASH” as Cagney), the six-episode premiere season with Meg Foster as Cagney, four post-series TV movies, and interviews with Gless, Daley and producer Barney Rosenzweig.
GONE IN 60 SECONDS
Writer/director/producer/star H.B. Halicki’s classic 1974 car-theft movie featuring Eleanor, the only Ford Mustang in history to receive starring credit in a feature film. Don’t miss the legendary 40-minute chase scene in which 93 cars were wrecked. Extras include behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of car thieves, police chases and chop shops.
NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS
Jonathan Demme (“Stop Making Sense”) directed this documentary about the rock star’s solo show last May in Toronto, where he was born. Rated PG for language including some drug references, and brief thematic material. Extras include “A Conversation with Neil Young and Jonathan Demme.”
TCM GREATEST CLASSIC LEGENDS: SPENCER TRACY
This salute to the iconic star includes several of his most memorable films: “Captains Courageous” (1937), “Boys Town” (1938), “Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde” (1941) and “Bad Day at Black Rock” (1954).
RECENT RELEASES
ROCK OF AGES
★★½
Rated
PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking and language
Stars
Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand
The best argument to come along in a long time that rock is indeed dead, Adam Shankman’s bland adaptation of the Broadway musical is way too long and remarkably tedious, considering that it’s all about the wild and crazy heyday of ’80s hair-metal. Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta give their all as the small-town girl and big-city boy who fall in love while dreaming of rock stardom on the sunset strip — but nothing makes much of an impression except Cruise as decadent superstar Stacee Jaxx. And the most memorable thing about his performance is his devil’s-head codpiece. Fortunately Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand are on hand to supply much-needed comic relief. Extras include an extended version of the film with 13 additional minutes.
I, ROBOT Blu-ray
★★★
Rated
PG-13 for intense stylized action, and some brief partial nudity
Stars
Will Smith, Bridget Moynihan, Bruce Greenwood
Little more than the title remains of Isaac Asimov’s classic short-story anthology in this 2004 slam-bang summertime action thriller — an automatic affront to sci-fi purists. Setting that aside, it must be said that “I, Robot” is pretty darn impressive as far as action eye candy goes, so long as you don’t start pulling on loose plot threads. The reconfigured story of a rogue Chicago homicide cop (Smith) attempting to thwart a robot revolution in the year 2035 has at least three good things going for it: A typically satisfactory performance from executive producer/star Smith, a clever, plot-twisting screenplay by Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind”) and the dark-tinged vision of director Alex Proyas. Extras include a new overlay of 3D.
AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK
“Blade Runner” is back with a sharp 30th-anniversary Blu-ray collection, ’50s video genius Ernie Kovacs is back for more laughs in a collection from Shout! Factory and Captain Marvel returns in a triple-disc set with all three seasons of TV’s early-’70s “Shazam!”
