NEW ON HOME VIDEO | This week's DVD releases

"Superman Returns": Director Bryan Singer's update on the Man of Steel leads a huge holiday rush of "Superman" DVD releases. "Superman Returns" follows in the spirit of the first two films that starred Christopher Reeve as the orphaned Kryptonian who becomes a crusader for truth and justice on Earth. The new film stars Brandon Routh as Superman and his mild-mannered alter ego Clark Kent, newly returned from a quest to find the remnants of his home planet and faced with fresh twists in his romance with Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) and his ongoing battle with Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey). The movie comes in a single-disc version with just the theatrical release, a two-disc set well-stocked with extras and in high-definition format on a Blu-ray disc and a combination HD DVD disc that also includes the regular DVD version. A big batch of deleted scenes leads the DVD extras, including some extra moments between Clark and his adoptive mom (Eva Marie Saint). There's also a marathon making-of documentary. Single-disc DVD, 28.98; two-disc DVD set, 34.99; Blu-ray disc, 34.99; HD DVD combination disc, 39.99. (Warner Bros.)
"The Ant Bully": A big-name voice cast including Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep could not rescue this animated summer flop, a tepid retread of better bug cartoons such as "Antz" and "A Bug's Life." The movie follows the adventures of a human boy who's been venting his frustrations by terrorizing the residents of an anthill in his backyard. He gets a predictable lesson in kinship, compassion and respect for all the earth's creatures after the ants magically shrink him down to their size and teach him what's what. Extras include deleted scenes, a series of short cartoons and a making-of featurette. DVD, 29.98; Blu-ray disc, 34.99; combination HD DVD and standard DVD disc, 39.99. (Warner Bros.)
"Clerks II": Writer, director and co-star Kevin Smith revisits the independent slacker tale that launched his career in the mid-1990s. The movie reunites Smith's old Jersey pals Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson, who starred as the overeducated, underemployed clerks at a convenience store and video shop in "Clerks," the two still lumbering through dead-end lives 10 years later. Their lives are shaken by disaster in the workplace, forcing them to find new careers -- as clerks at a fast-food joint, where they pal around with the restaurant's manager (Rosario Dawson). The garrulous Smith joins cast members and other collaborators for commentary and provides introductions to deleted scenes. The two-disc set also has a 90-minute making-of documentary. DVD set, 29.95. (Genius)
"See No Evil": Hulking pro wrestler Kane jumps to the big screen in a grisly horror fest, playing a gargantuan, deranged loner living in a decaying hotel where a group of petty criminals are assigned to do community-service work. Conveniently, the cop who shot the giant madman in the head years earlier also is on hand, sending the resident psycho into a frenzy of revenge and forcing the small-time crooks to band together to fight him off. Kane contributes commentary, while director Gregory Dark and writer Dan Madigan offer a separate commentary track. The DVD also has two featurettes. DVD, 28.98. (Lionsgate)
--Associated Press
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