“Dope” (2015, R, 103 min., $29.98) Refreshingly original, “Dope” is the latest film from under-appreciated director Rick Famuyiwa, the talented fellow responsible for 1999's “The Wood” and 2007's “Talk to Me.” “Dope,” his best movie to date, is a terrific coming-of-age dramedy powered by breakout performances from Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons and Tony Revolori. Famuyiwa, who also wrote the screenplay, provides a stereotype-shattering storyline that's full of energy and optimism. The picture follows a high-school kid named Malcolm (Moore), who lives in a tough L.A. neighborhood. Malcolm has good friends — Diggy (Clemons) and Jib (Revolori) — and he wants to go to Harvard. Dodging gangs and random acts of violence is hard enough, but when he gets mixed up with a couple of drug dealers, the chips are stacked against him. Malcolm turns to Diggy, Jib and a couple of old acquaintances to lift him out of the jam. The crew turns to intelligence to navigate the dog-eat-dog world of drug dealing, all the while dodging some shady characters. Standard DVD and Blu-ray packages carry a couple of good featurettes. “Dope is Different” focuses on the film's characters and themes, while “Dope Music” looks at the old-school score. 3 stars
“The Civil War 25th Anniversary” (1990, NR, 680 min., $129.99) Is there a better documentarian than Ken Burns? It's highly doubtful, considering the filmmaker has provided so much depth on topics like baseball, jazz, prohibition and the National Parks. Burns is best known for his riveting piece on the Civil War. Originally released in 1990, the 680-minute, nine-part documentary has captured over 40 major awards, including two Emmys, and established a new style for these films. The film has been meticulously restored to a high-definition format, matching the same framing and fidelity Burns and his cinematographers originally used. The digital restoration is absolutely clear in the audio and video components of the presentation. The picture and the sound are incredibly sharp, making Burns' work that much better. A new set of special features has been added to coincide with this new release. An interesting featurette looks deep into the restoration process, while another explores the production 25 years later. Interviews with those behind the restoration are also here. 4 stars
“Tomorrowland” (2015, PG, 130 min., $29.99) Accomplished filmmaker Brad Bird co-wrote and directed this family film about a young woman and an older man, tied together by a love for science, embarking on an adventure to another dimension called Tomorrowland. The cast includes George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Tim McGraw and Hugh Laurie. “Call Me Lucky” (2015, NR, 106 min., $24.98) Director Bobcat Goldthwait turns in an honest portrait of the life of comedian Barry Crimmins in this fascinating documentary. A victim of sexual abuse as a child, Crimmins took it upon himself to target child predators on the Internet. The comedian's mission took him all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. “The Gallows” (2015, R, 81 min., $28.98) Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing teamed up to write and direct this horror film about students at a small-town high school trying to resurrect a play that ended in tragedy 20 years earlier. As the teens start working on the production, they realize some things are better left alone. Reese Mishler and Pfeifer Brown star. “The Little Death” (2014, NR, 96 min., $26.98) After a successful run on the festival circuit, director Josh Lawson's romantic dramedy arrives on video. The steamy picture follows the lives of five suburban couples living in Australia, exploring the intimate aspects of their relationships. Josh Lawson, Damon Herriman, Bojana Novakovic have lead roles. “Ascension” (2014, NR, 232 min., $24.98) A three-part miniseries that scored high rating upon its television run on SyFy, “Ascension,” starring Tricia Helfer, Gil Bellows and Brian Van Holt, takes viewers into space, where the United States secretly sent hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aimed at populating a new world. “Skin Traffik” (2015, R, 97 min., $19.99) A who's who of B-movie stars, including Michael Madsen, Mickey Rourke, Jeff Fahey and Eric Roberts, star in director Ara Paiaya's crime thriller about a discouraged hit man named Bradley (Gary Daniels) trying to find meaning in life. He gets his chance by attempting to save a girl from human traffickers. “In the Courtyard” (2014, R, 97 min., $24.98) A French dramedy written and directed by Pierre Salvadori, it looks at the friendship that develops between Antoine (Gustave Kervern) and Mathilde (Catherine Deneuve) in an old residential building in Paris. Antoine is the caretaker, and Mathilde is the panicked resident he has to deal with. “Zipper” (2015, R, 103 min., $19.99) A star-studded cast, including Patrick Wilson, Richard Dreyfuss, Ray Winstone and Lena Headley, highlights filmmaker Mora Stephens' thriller about a hot-shot prosecutor who finds he's being groomed for a seat in Congress. Unfortunately, the lawyer's personal life should be kept secret. New on Blu-ray • “Aladdin: Diamond Edition” (1992, G, 90 min., $39.99) • “Spartacus: Restored Edition” (1960, PG-13, 197 min., $19.98) • “The Return of Count Yorga” (1971, NR, 97 min., $26.99) TV on DVD • “Mad Men: The Complete Collection” (23 discs, 92 episodes, $209.98) • “Mad Men: The Final Season, Part 2” (three discs, seven episodes, $39.98) • “Dexter: The Complete Series” 32 discs, 96 episodes, $108.99) • “The Following: The Third and Final Season” (four discs, 15 episodes, $39.98) • “The Following: The Complete Series” (nine discs, 45 episodes, $95.72) • “Wayward Pines: Season 1” (three discs, 10 episodes, $22.99) • “The Don Rickles TV Specials: Volume 1” (one disc, 110 min., $12.98) • “The Saint: Seasons One & Two” (10 discs, 39 episodes, $44.99) • “Grimm: Season Four” (five discs, 22 episodes, $59.98) • “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Christmas!” (one disc, three episodes, $9.99) • “When Calls the Heart: Year Two” (five discs, nine episodes, $29.93) Other releases • “Greatest Heroes of the Bible: The Complete Collection” (four discs, 15 stories, $29.99)Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)