By Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee
This week’s new DVD releases are dominated by the latest film in the “Star Wars” universe.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” 3½ stars: A task as big as building a Death Star fell to director Gareth Edwards to create the first of what is intended to be a series of standalone tales based on events in the “Star Wars” universe.
His contribution is “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” a fast-paced adventure that takes place just before events of “Star Wars: A New Hope.” If you ever wondered how Princess Leia got the plans to the Death Star and loaded them into R2-D2, this film fills in the backstory.
The film’s biggest flaw has to do with some special-effects work. In an effort not to spoil anything, all I can safely say is that an effect to allow a major character to return is so creepy it looks more suited for a Tim Burton movie. The decision to go with special effects instead of new casting was a major mistake.
In the end, Edwards has mixed great action scenes with an interesting story to make a movie that is designed to be a one-shot adventure but will still leave you wishing there could be more.
Also new this week:
“The Founder”: Michael Keaton stars in this look at the man who started McDonald’s (on digital on-demand).
“Split”: Man with multiple personalities kidnaps three young women (on digital on-demand).
“Tunnel”: Car salesman fights for survival inside a collapsed tunnel (on digital on-demand).
“Generation Found”: A look at one community’s efforts to help deal with youth addiction (on digital on-demand).
“Youth in Oregon”: Family refuses to accept plans by a man to be euthanized.
“Paterson”: Bus driver (Adam Driver) takes poetic look at the world.
“Silver Skies”: Group of eccentric seniors work together to save their homes.
“Medium: The Complete Series”: TV drama based on the real-life story of research medium Allison Dubois.
“Heidi”: Anuk Steffen plays the Swiss mountain girl.
“The Bounce Back”: Opposites attract in this romantic comedy starring Shemar Moore.
“Three”: Criminal turns hospital into a battleground.
“Actor Martinez”: Novice actor hires crew to make indie film with him as the star.
“Legend of Bruce Lee: Volume Two”: Set features 10 episodes that follows Lee begins a revolution in the world of martial arts.
“Cooking at the World’s End”: Documentary about the Grupo Nove, an association of Spanish chefs in Galicia.
“The Good Wife: The Complete Series”: Julianna Margulies stars in the legal drama.
“Best of Tim Conway”: Includes highlights of the comedian’s work on “The Carol Burnett Show.”
“Sleepless”: Undercover police officer is caught between mob and corrupt cops.
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