Vampire, ninja collections round out new DVD releases

There are several new movies on DVD this week but none of them particularly exciting. So we'll begin with a pair of reissue sets for fans of vintage horror and vintage martial arts.

"Undead: The Vampire Collection" (Mill Creek, 1922-88, R-rated/not rated, b/w and color, four discs, $14 .98). There are some very good films included among the 20 collected here — the silent "Nosferatu," which was the first "Dracula" film; "The Last Man on Earth," with Vincent Price, based on a novel by Richard Matheson (later remade as "The Omega Man" with Charlton Heston and "I Am Legend" with Will Smith); "The Vampire Bat," with "King Kong's" Fay Wray; and "Nightmare Castle," with Barbara Steele.

But there's also a lot of junk, including several trashy R-rated pictures from the 1970s, such as "The Werewolf vs. Vampire Women," "Vampire's Night Orgy" and "Horrible Sexy Vampire." Honest!

Extras: full frame/widescreen, 20 films

"The Sonny Chiba Collection" (Mill Creek, 1979-83, three discs, $14.98). The four movies here feature the popular martial-arts master: "Legend of the Eight Samurai," "Ninja Wars," "G.I. Samurai" and "Resurrection of Golden Wolf."

None of these will replace "Street Fighter" in your heart, but each has its action-packed moments.

Extras: widescreen, four films

"Planet 51" (TriStar, 2009, PG, $28.96). Despite impressive computer animation, this sci-fi comedy has a terrible script, especially with its emphasis on low-brow humor that parents may regret foisting on their kids. The story has an astronaut landing on a distant planet, causing little green residents to fear an alien invasion. Voices include Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman and John Cleese.

Extras: widescreen, extended scenes, featurettes, music video, interactive game, trailers

"Old Dogs" (Disney/Blu-ray, 2009, three discs, PG, $44.99). Strained, unfunny, very low-brow comedy about two old pals and business partners (Robin Williams, John Travolta) on the verge of a major overseas deal when twice-divorced Williams finds he has twins from his brief second marriage (to Kelly Preston). Williams and Travolta embarrass themselves by mugging and bumbling their way through attempts at parenthood.

Extras: widescreen, DVD version of film, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurette, music videos, bloopers, trailers