Susan Granger’s DVD/Video Update for week of Friday, September 18:
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” reveals the origin of surly James Logan (Hugh Jackman), Marvel’s angriest mutant superhero. Back in 1845 in Canada’s Northwest Territories, he discovers that when he becomes furious, his hands sprout retractable bone-claws; not surprisingly, his older half-brother Creed (Liev Schreiber), has similar but different powers. Being ageless and indestructible, they fight in the American Civil War, both World Wars and Vietnam before they’re recruited by Maj. William Stryker (Danny Huston) as part of the U.S. Government’s Team X.
Jessica Biel stars as a brash American heiress who impetuously marries into an aristocratic British family in “Easy Virtue,” based on Noel Coward’s 1920s comedy-of-manners. In this case, a fish-out-of-water becomes a feminist-out-of-century. While there’s a snippet of upstairs/downstairs intrigue, the conflict is primarily between her and her imperious mother-in-law (Kirsten Scott-Thomas). If you’re curious, rent “Easy Virtue” as a silent film directed by a very young Alfred Hitchcock.
A cache of drugs ends up in the wrong place in music video director Benny Bloom’s “Next Day Air,” starring “Scrubs” Donald Faison as a perpetually stoned delivery man, along with Cisco, Reyes, Emilio Rivera and cameos by Mos Def and Debbie Allen.
From Christopher Webster (“Hellraiser,” “Heathers”) there’s the coming-of-age, teen horror thriller “Deadgirl,” in the original R-rated cut and the unrated Director’s Cut.
For tots, “Barney: Jungle Friends” has rainforest discoveries and animal adventures, while older kids like “Bionicle: The Legend Reborn” inspired by Lego construction toys and featuring the voice of Michael Dorn from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as warrior Mata Nui.