Selected home-video releases:
“Jackass Number Two”
Snakes, leeches, charging bulls, fishhooks through the cheek, manure washed down with beer. Is there anything the madmen of “Jackass” won’t do for a disgusting laugh? Apparently not, as the sequel to their 2002 gross-out hit has Johnny Knoxville and his band of pranksters performing all manner of insanely hazardous stunts, obnoxious dares and lower-than-lowbrow gags. Along with regulars Steve-O, Wee Man, Chris Pontius and the rest of the boys, Knoxville is joined by John Waters (who directed him in “A Dirty Shame”) and Spike Jonze, a producer on the movie and co-creator of the “Jackass” TV show, who grossly appears disguised as a 90-year-old woman with a habit of exposing her breasts. The DVD features enough deleted scenes and additional pranks to add up to another full movie, along with commentary from Knoxville, director Jeff Tremaine and many of their colleagues. DVD, $29.99. (Paramount)
“The Black Dahlia”
Director Brian De Palma puts his grisly stamp on one of Hollywood’s most notorious unsolved murders, the brutal slaying and mutilation of wannabe starlet Elizabeth Short in 1947. The film stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as L.A. detectives investigating the case, Scarlett Johansson as a woman at the heart of an odd triangle with the two cops and Hilary Swank as a slumming socialite with a connection to the victim. Highlighting the DVD extras is a conversation with author James Ellroy, whose novel was the basis for the movie. The disc also has a making-of featurette and a segment on De Palma’s over-the-top cinematic style. DVD, $29.98. (Universal)
“The Descent”
Horror goes underground with this British fright flick about six women on a caving expedition in the Appalachians who become the main course for ravenous subterranean humanoids with a hankering for human flesh. The DVD comes with the R-rated theatrical version or an unrated cut. Director Neil Marshall provides two commentaries, one with the actresses, the other with crew members. Other extras include an interview with Marshall, deleted and extended scenes and a behind-the-scenes segment. The unrated cut is available in widescreen and full-screen versions; the R-rated theatrical release is available only in full-screen format. The Blu-ray high-definition release has both the unrated and R-rated versions. DVD, $28.98; Blu-ray disc, $39.99. (Lionsgate)
“The Last Kiss”
Zach Braff tones down his puppy-dog routine from TV’s “Scrubs” for a more adult look at the pitfalls of romance. Apparently, audiences would have preferred the puppy dog, this comic drama landing in theaters with a thud. Braff plays an architect who, rattled by the prospect of commitment to his pregnant girlfriend (Jacinda Barrett), veers into a relationship with a young college woman (Rachel Bilson). The movie is highlighted by great supporting performances from Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson. Among DVD extras are seven deleted and extended scenes and a music video directed by Braff. Director Tony Goldwyn joins Braff, Barrett, Bilson and other cast members for commentary. DVD, $29.99. (Paramount)
TV on DVD:
“The Simple Life 4: ‘Til Death Do Us Part”: Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were divided in real life by a spat, but they carried on their reality show with separate segments in which each tries her incapable hands at laundry, cooking, tending babies and other tasks of the common housewife. The DVD has season four’s 10 episodes. DVD, $19.98. (20th Century Fox)
“Airwolf: Season Two”: Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine and Alex Cord return as a band of operatives taking on bad guys around the world with the help of a super-advanced helicopter. All 22 episodes from year two are packed on a five-disc set. DVD set, $39.98. (Universal)
“Dane Cook’s Tourgasm”: Standup comic Cook leads three other comedians, Gary Gulman, Jay Davis and Robert Kelly, on the road with this behind-the-scenes series following their 2005 cross-country college tour. The three-disc set has all nine episodes, with commentary from Cook and company plus two featurettes. DVD set, $29.94. (HBO)
“Two-a-Days: Hoover High – The Complete First Season”: The players of the Hoover, Ala., high school football team star in this reality series that chronicles the pressures of their home and school lives amid an arduous schedule of practices twice a day. A three-disc set has all nine episodes. DVD set, $39.99. (Paramount)
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