Austen flicks among new releases

Here are some new-to-Blu-ray and DVD movies and TV shows with led by a couple for Jane Austen fans.

"Pride and Prejudice" (A&E/Blu-ray, 1995, two discs, $49.95). Fans of Jane Austen's much-filmed novel generally consider this the definitive version, largely because it stays so true to the book.

Jennifer Ehle is quite good as stubborn Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Firth is great as the aloof Darcy in this adaptation of the familiar story, in which the most spirited of five unmarried sisters in 19th-century England is determined to marry for love.

But the really good news with this Blu-ray edition is that all of the technical flaws in the earlier DVD release have been addressed, and the lush colors and better sound in this set make for a glistening example of what high-definition does best for lavish productions with loads of eye candy.

Extras: widescreen, six episodes, new featurettes

"Lost in Austen" (Image, 2008, $27.98). Speaking of Jane Austen, this likable fantasy stars Jemima Rooper as a modern-day London woman who finds herself transported to the 19th-century English countryside as the lead character in her favorite Austen novel — "Pride and Prejudice," of course. But then she discovers she has messed up the story and must put things back in line. Some funny stuff in this fish-out-of-water miniseries.

Extras: widescreen, four episodes, featurette

"Mean Girls" (Paramount/Blue-ray, 2004, PG-13, $29.99). Tina Fey wrote and has a small part in this spoof of high school comedies — hmmm, can you spoof comedy? The film is uneven, but there is some funny stuff as home-tutored Lindsay Lohan goes to public school for the first time and finds herself caught up in struggles for popularity. Good supporting cast includes Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler.

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers

"Mask of the Ninja" (RHI/Genius, 2008, $19.95). Casper Van Dien stars as a detective in this straight-to-DVD action yarn about ninja assassins stealing a biological weapon.

Extras: widescreen

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