Conflicts unfold in a ravaged future world, the church and in an isolated bar in this week’s new DVD releases.
• “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” HH: This should have been the third and final movie in the series, but “Allegiant” was divided into two sections. As with previous splits, the first part feels like it’s treading water until the real finale comes along.
The treading in “Allegiant” has Tris (Shailene Woodley) and her merry band of troublemakers leaving the confines of their city to explore what exists beyond the walls. They find another city — magnificently built on the site of O’Hare Airport — run by the smarmy David (Jeff Daniels). He’s been monitoring Tris and the others in her city as an experiment to find the perfect people.
Even the big finale comes across as being the best of a long list of bad ideas.
• “Miracles From Heaven” HHH: The approach for “Miracles From Heaven” leaves the movie less a sermon and more a deeply moving story about family and faith. This gives the production a potentially broader appeal that should get it more attention than just from the choir.
The film finds a larger strength because it doesn’t focus on the major miracle of the girl’s recovery. It’s strong because it revels in the little miracles — a kind act, a show of generosity, an unselfish move — that happen on a constant basis all around us.
• “Green Room” HHH: The film is really scary because almost every second is buried neck-deep in reality. The events that happen to the punk rock band, The Ain’t Rights, could happen to any band playing for an audience that, if the Nazi flags are any clue, has never celebrated Martin Luther King Day.
That’s scary stuff.
Also on DVD
• “iZombie: The Complete Second Season”: Rose McIver stars in the TV series about a zombie who works in a morgue.
• “No Men Beyond This Point”: Mockumentary about a world where men are no longer needed.
• “Rocky Mountain Express”: A look at the vistas of the West in 4K resolution with ultra high definition.
• “The Dresser”: Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins star in this tale of a veteran actor and his chief assistant.
• “Everybody Wants Some”: Richard Linklater’s informal follow-up to “Dazed and Confused.”
• “America’s Test Kitchen: Season 16”: Test kitchen’s secrets to foolproof cooking at home.
• “Model Hunger”: Former pin-up model becomes revenge-seeking woman.
• “Blaze and the Monster Machines: Fired Up!”: Blaze must help save the day.
• “LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes — Justice League: Gotham City Breakout”: Batgirl and Nightwing take Batman on a trip down memory lane.
• “Slasher: Season One”: Woman returns to her hometown only to find herself in the middle of murder.
• “My Golden Days”: Two young lovers look to salvage their relationship.
• “Dinosaur Train: Under the Volcano”: Buddy and his family watch a mighty volcano.
• “Belladonna of Sadness”: One of the lost masterpieces of Japanese animation has been restored.
• “Characterz”: Job as a theme park mascot offers a revealing look at what happens behind the scenes.
• “Naked and Afraid XL: Season 1”: Twelve people face the wilderness for 40 days without supplies or clothes.
• “Flight of the Butterflies”: Hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from to California and Mexico.
• “Frontline: Children of Syria”: Documentary follows four Syrian children over a three-year period.
On digital HD
• “Criminal”: Killer (Kevin Costner) gets the memories of a government agent.
• “The Boss”: Business leader (Melissa McCarthy) is not greeted with open arms after a stint in prison.
