New on DVD
This week’s new DVD releases include one that will lift you up and another that will let you down.
“I Can Only Imagine”: The opening lyrics of the MercyMe song “I Can Only Imagine” are “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side.” Those simple words begin what has become the most-played Christian radio single ever.
A song with such power must come from a special place, and that is what the new DVD release “I Can Only Imagine” examines.
Directors Andrew and Jon Erwin, working from a script by Alex Cramer, offer a glimpse into the pain and suffering MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley) experienced as elements of his life finally came together to put him in an emotional, spiritual and physical place to pen such a powerful song.
“I Can Only Imagine” is a story about the art of faith and having faith in the arts. The combination makes the production worthy to be included in the world of the better faith-based movies.
At the same time, it is full of universal points about family, finding your way in life, dealing with talent issues and being ready when inspiration arrives that will be familiar to a broad audience.
“Sherlock Gnomes”: The mystery of “Sherlock Gnomes” is elementary, my dear reader: The film is as flat as British cooking.
Director John Stevenson (“Kung Fu Panda”) has taken the few best parts of the animated film “Gnomeo & Juliet” and the intellectual stylings of the Sherlock Holmes tales and removed them from the equation in making the clueless tale of suspense.
It is neither flashy nor fun enough for youngsters, nor mentally challenging enough for adults.
One of the big problems is the sequel is a followup to a production that didn’t have a lot going for it in the first place. The 2011 release, “Gnomeo & Juliet,” was the story of two gnomes from opposite sides of the fence who fall in love.
It took 11 years to make the animated take on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” using garden gnomes, but the result felt more like it was made in days. The script lacked originality, the Elton John soundtrack felt forced and the characters were more creepy than cuddly.
Even if the script had been smarter and the gags less stale, the gnomes remained unappealing as they do in this new offering.
ALSO NEW THIS WEEK
“Elvis 5-Movie Collection”: Includes “Blue Hawaii,” “Fun in Acapulco,” “G. I. Blues,” “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and “Roustabout.”
“Tomb Raider”: Alicia Vikander stars in the latest big-screen look at the young adventurer who tries to find out what happened to her father.
“Dinosaur Train: Meeting New Friends”: The Pteranodon family meets new friends on the trail of the Dinosaur Train.
“An Ordinary Man”: War criminal (Ben Kingsley) is moved to a new hideout where he develops a relationship with the maid that looks after him.
“The Mimic”: Mother of a missing child takes in a lost girl and soon begins to wonder if she is human.
“Power: The Complete Fourth Season”: Tensions escalate as “Ghost” finds himself in jail.
“Menace & Murder: A Lynda La Plante Collection”: Features three mystery thrillers: “Supply & Demand,” “Killer Net” and “Mind Games.”
“Edward II”: Film based on the 1593 work by Christopher Marlowe based on the life of Britain’s only openly gay monarch.
“America’s Greatest Monuments”: A look at how worldrenowned symbols of the nation are cloaked in misinformation, mystery and mythology.
“Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz: Emerald City Season One Volume Two”: Dorothy tackles her royal duties with enthusiasm and bravery in his animated series.
“Orange is the New Black: Season Five”: A new state of chaos descends upon Litchfield Penitentiary in this acclaimed Netflix series.
“Ninja III: The Domination”: The ’80s cult classic starring Lucinda Dickey is being released on Blu-ray.
“Loveless”: A young boy disappears after seeing his divorcing parents fighting.
“First Civilizations”: Series identifies four cornerstones of civilization — war, religion, cities and trade — and explores each in the context of different civilizations.
“Trading Places”: The film starring Eddie Murphy with Dan Aykroyd is being rereleased to mark its 35th anniversary.
“Spinning Man”: Professor’s life goes out of control when he becomes the primary suspect in the disappearance of a female college student. Guy Pearce stars.
“Will & Grace: Season One”: Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally reprise their roles for the return of this NBC series after a decade of being off the air.
“Jerry Lewis 10-Film Collection”: Among the 10 movies in the set are “The Nutty Professor” and “The Stooge.”
“Daniel Tiger Double Feature: Daniel Goes Camping and Tiger Family Trip”: The 4-year-old Daniel Tiger invites young viewers into his world, giving them a kid’s-eye view of his life.
“Love, Simon”: Gay teen doesn’t know the identity of the classmate he’s fallen for online.