'Defiance' among new DVD releases

Two of last year's most compelling dramas lead off this look at movies new to DVD.

"Defiance" (Paramount/Blu-ray, 2008; R for violence, language; $39.99). Daniel Craig doffs his 007 persona for this true story of an East European band of brothers (including Liev Schreiber) who gather refugees persecuted by Nazis and hide them in a forest that becomes their mobile city.

The film would have benefited from digging deeper into characterizations but instead settles for simply being an action film. But it's a very good action film, with fine performances all around.

Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes (also in DVD, $29.99)

"Revolutionary Road" (Paramount, 2008; R for language, sex, nudity; $29.99). Leonardo DiCaprio is terrific and Kate Winslet is stunning in this depressing deconstruction of 1950s suburban angst, a downbeat look at a couple whose lives have gone stale and the choices they make that lead only to sadness.

A dark vision, not that far afield from Director Sam Mendes' "American Beauty," And I find myself agreeing with those who suggest that Winslet should have won her Oscar for this one instead of "The Reader."

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurette (also in Blu-ray, $39.99)

"Une Femme Mariee (A Married Woman)" (Koch Lorber, 1964, b/w, $26.98). Jean-Luc Godard also explores mid-marriage angst — albeit from a decidedly French point of view — as a woman (Macha Meril) is torn between her husband and a lover. An unexpected pregnancy further complicates matters.

Slow-going but interesting; Godard fans have been waiting for this one to hit DVD.

Extras: full frame, in French with English subtitles

"Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (New Video, 2008, $14.95). Joss Whedon's hilarious musical spoof of superheroes — originally an Internet freebie — gets a second DVD release, this time with loads of bonus features, the most original being an audio commentary sung by the cast (compete with orchestrations).

Extras: widescreen, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers

"Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" (Sony/Blu-ray, 2009, $38.96). Further adventures of the animated franchise adapted from the video game, here with the action moved forward two years as Cloud is once again called upon to save the planet.

This is a director's cut with 26 minutes of new footage, as well as an all-new short. And everything is quite eye-catching in Blu-ray.

Extras: widescreen, short episode: "Denzel," featurettes, trailers (including preview of "Final Fantasy XIII" video game)

E-MAIL: hicks@desnews.com