This week’s new DVD releases are dominated by the latest film in the “Star Wars” universe.
• “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” 3 1/2 stars: A task as big as building a Death Star fell to director Gareth Edwards to create the first of what is intended to be a series of standalone tales based on events in the “Star Wars” universe.
His contribution is “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” a fast-paced adventure that takes place just before events of “Star Wars: A New Hope.” If you ever wondered how Princess Leia got the plans to the Death Star and loaded them into R2-D2, this film fills in the backstory.
The film’s biggest flaw has to do with some special-effects work. In an effort not to spoil anything, all I can safely say is that an effect to allow a major character to return is so creepy it looks more suited for a Tim Burton movie.
In the end, the good work Edwards did outweighs the bad. He has mixed great action scenes with an interesting story to make a movie that is designed to be a one-shot adventure but will still leave you wishing there could be more.
Also on DVD
• “Youth in Oregon”: Family refuses to accept plans by a man to be euthanized.
• “Paterson”: Bus driver (Adam Driver) takes poetic look at the world.
• “Silver Skies”: Group of eccentric seniors work together to save their homes.
• “Medium: The Complete Series”: TV drama based on the real-life story of research medium Allison Dubois.
• “Heidi”: Anuk Steffen plays the Swiss mountain girl.
• “The Bounce Back”: Opposites attract in this romantic comedy starring Shemar Moore.
• “Three”: Criminal turns hospital into a battleground.
• “We Don’t Belong Here”: Family must deal with a dark secret.
• “Actor Martinez”: Novice actor hires crew to make indie film with him as the star.
• “Cooking at the World’s End”: Documentary about the Grupo Nove, an group of Spanish chefs in Galicia.
• “The Good Wife: The Complete Series”: Julianna Margulies stars in the legal drama.
• “Best of Tim Conway”: Includes highlights of the comedian’s work on “The Carol Burnett Show.”
On digital HD
• “Sleepless”: Undercover officer is caught between mob and corrupt cops.
• “Tunnel”: Car salesman fights for survival inside a collapsed tunnel.
• “The Founder”: Michael Keaton stars as the man who started McDonald’s.
• “Split”: Man with multiple personalities kidnaps three young women.
• “Generation Found”: A look at one community’s efforts to help deal with youth addiction.
