"SAW II": The fright franchise that has nothing to offer but blood, sweat, toil and blood returns with another round of sick games staged by a serial killer out to prove that pretty much all humans

"SAW II": The fright franchise that has nothing to offer but blood, sweat, toil and blood returns with another round of sick games staged by a serial killer out to prove that pretty much all humans deserve a gruesome death. With a mostly new cast led by Donnie Wahlberg as the cop at the center of the story, the sequel puts maniacal murderer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) into the hands of police, who must race to discover the whereabouts of a house where the wacko has imprisoned eight people among various devices of torture and death. The DVD has a making-of featurette and segments on the ghoulish props and traps the filmmakers concocted. Wahlberg, co-star Beverly Mitchell and director Darren Lynn Bousman also provide audio commentary. DVD, $28.98. (Lionsgate)
"ZATHURA": It could have been a hit, if only people knew how to pronounce it at the ticket counter. This cute sci-fi family adventure, adapted from the picture book by Chris Van Allsburg ("The Polar Express"), features bickering brothers (Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo) who must learn to put their differences aside to escape the perils they encounter when a dusty old board game sends them on a star trek among berserk robots and nasty reptilian aliens. Director Jon Favreau and co-producer Peter Billingsley offer commentary, while the DVD has a nice range of background material about casting, creature creation, miniatures and visual effects. There's also a featurette on the artistic style of Van Allsburg's books. DVD, $28.95. (Sony)
"PROOF": Need fresh proof that Gwyneth Paltrow can act up a tempest without having Shakespeare around to love? That Anthony Hopkins has plenty of tooth left in his acting bite? That Jake Gyllenhaal is more than just the cowboy-toy of Heath Ledger? Paltrow reunites with her "Shakespeare in Love" director, John Madden, for this adaptation of the stage play about an unbalanced woman living in fear that she has inherited not only the brilliance of her math genius dad (Hopkins), but also his madness. Gyllenhaal, an Oscar nominee for "Brokeback Mountain," co-stars as a math student with a personal and professional interest in Paltrow. Deleted footage is accompanied by remarks from Madden, who also provides commentary for the full film. DVD, $29.99. (Miramax)
"MIRRORMASK": The Jim Henson Co. is not in Muppetland anymore with this visually striking fantasy tale about a girl who ventures into a strange parallel world where odd creatures abound and darkness holds sway. Writer Neil Gaiman and director Dave McKean offer insights in interviews and commentary, and the DVD has a range of background on visual effects. DVD, $26.96. (Sony)
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