This week's new DVD releases include the Blu-ray releases of a film classic and sci-fi TV series, and a dark tale starring Ryan Gosling.
"To Kill a Mockingbird," Grade A: To mark the 50th anniversary of this amazing movie, a commemorative limited edition collector's series Blu-ray combo pack is being released.The digitally remastered and fully restored version offers clearer images, but this film, based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is already powerful because of the writing and performances. This is one of the finest works by Gregory Peck in a career filled with memorable performances."Drive," Grade C-: The first half of this film from director Nicolas Winding Refn should be called "Coast."Gosling is a Hollywood stuntman by day and getaway driver by night. When the loner connects with his neighbor (Carey Mulligan), he gets a clue to a past that's turned him into a sociopathic driver. The tedium of the film might have worked if Gosling's character had any life, but Refn's direction is methodical to the point of being pretentious."Drive" is one of those movies that wraps itself in the art of cinema by cherry-picking the best from genres such as film noir, Sam Peckinpah violence and '70s social rejection. It might have worked in the hands of a better movie mechanic, but Refn's vehicle stalls out."Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level," Grade B+: Episodes of the '80s-'90s sci-fi TV series are being released in the enhanced Blu-ray format. The initial release includes "Encounter at Farpoint," "Sins of the Father" and "The Inner Light."This upgrade creates images so sharp that the product is far superior to the original.Also new on DVD Jan. 31