'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' an enjoyable DVD

The latest "Planet of the Apes" picture leads these new films on Blu-ray and DVD this week.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (Fox/Blu-ray, 2011, PG-13, two discs, $39.99). Easily the best "Apes" movie since the 1968 original, this is also one of the year's most enjoyable fantasy films, retelling the origin story in a new way that should please old fans and new.

Andy Serkis, who scored as Gollum in "Lord of the Rings," again uses motion-capture animation to give an astonishing performance as Cesar, the central ape. The film itself is replete with clichés in the lab, in scientist James Franco's home and even a sort of chimps-in-prison sequence, but it builds dramatically to an exciting battle of apes vs. man on the Golden Gate Bridge.

John Lithgow also does nicely as Franco's father, slipping into dementia, and all of the various apes are well performed. But it's really Serkis' remarkable characterization that holds it all together.

Extras: widescreen; Blu-ray, DVD and digital versions; deleted scenes, audio commentary, feaurettes, art gallery (also on single-disc DVD, $29)

"Kung Fu Panda 2" (Dreamworks/Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy, 2011, PG, two discs, $49.99). Jack Black leads an all-star voice cast for this animated sequel, which is just as enjoyable as the first film. Here, Po and friends are living a peaceful life when an old enemy returns with a powerful new weapon.

Extras: widescreen; Blu-ray, DVD and digital versions; deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, new short cartoon: "Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters," two memberships to online game "Kung Fu Panda World," trailers; DVD-Rom applications (also on two-disc DVD, $40.99, and single-disc DVD, $29.99)

"Fright Night" (Touchstone/Blu-ray, 2011; R for violence, language, sex; two discs, $30.99). Solid remake of the campy '80s vampire spoof stars Colin Farrell as the alluring but deadly bloodsucker who moves into a suburban neighborhood and begins his rampage until a spunky high schooler (Anton Yelchin) catches on. Funny and scary with over-the-top special effects.

Extras: widescreen, Blu-ray and DVD versions, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers, trailers (also on three-disc Blu-ray 3-D Combo pack, $49.99, and single disc DVD, $29.99)