New on DVD this week:
Cinderella
Kenneth Branagh directs this Disney live-action revamp of its 1950 animated movie, with Lily James (Downton Abbey) in the title role and Cate Blanchett as its delicious villainess. It鈥檚 a perfect family film, retaining the awe and magic of a classic fairy tale while imbuing the story with just enough new details to make it seem current. The stepmother, for example, is given a little motivation for her evilness, while Cinderella is still be a wide-eyed innocent but can hold her own with the prince (Richard Madden). The Blu-ray鈥檚 special features delve into costuming 400 extras (in Staging the Ball), with more of Sandy Powell鈥檚 creations in Costume Test Fun. Animal training is explored in Ella鈥檚 Furry Friends and A Fairy Tale Comes to Life features interviews with Branagh, screenwriter, producers and all principals. Also an Alternate Opening and Frozen Fever short.
Pitch Perfect 2
Beca and Fat Amy (Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson) are back in their final year with the Barden Bellas and going international in hopes of redemption after a humiliating defeat at Lincoln Center. 鈥淲hat an inspiration to girls all over the world who are too ugly to be cheerleaders!鈥� Special features include line-o-rama, deleted and extended scenes, the Bumper and Fat Amy love story, gag reel, an extra on first-time director Elizabeth Banks (who also provides film commentary with producers), another on Snoop Dogg, and much more.
St. Laurent
France鈥檚 submission for best Foreign Film at the Oscars last year was St. Laurent, the story of how the young fashion designer (Gaspard Ulliel) rode the tumult and hedonism of the 1970s arts scene and emerged as a couture icon. Blu-ray extras include two featurettes with director Bertrand Bonello and cast discussing the life of Yves St. Laurent.
Furious 7
James Wan directs Paul Walker in his final role along with regulars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster and Chris 鈥淟udacris鈥� Bridges. Jason Statham joins the fray as a special-forces assassin hell-bent on revenge. 鈥淭his time it 鈥榓int just about being fast,鈥� says Dominic (Diesel). Explosions and half-dressed babes aplenty can鈥檛 hold a candle to the real stars, the car chases: cars fall out of airplanes, fly from skyscraper to skyscraper and take on tanks, semis and military vehicles. There鈥檚 a touching tribute to Walker at the film鈥檚 end.
