view from the couch
“LOGAN”
Hugh Jackman apparently bids farewell to his “X-Men” alter ego – not a spoiler, since he said very openly that he had wanted to finish the role – in this well-crafted, neatly played adventure that reunites the actor with James Mangold, who also directed him in “The Wolverine.” Banished to relative isolation with other remaining mutants, Logan gets his claws out again to help a super-powered youngster (Dafne Keen) evade villains who want her DNA. Patrick Stewart also makes an effective, and affecting, return as Professor Charles Xavier; other co-stars include Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant and Eriq La Salle (“ER”). (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)
“GET OUT”
Jordan Peele – half of comedy’s Key and Peele – scored a major hit as a writerdirector with this genre-bending melodrama, which follows an interracial couple (played by Daniel Kaluuya and “Girls” co-star Allison Williams) on their weekend getaway to visit the woman’s parents (Catherine Keener and “The West Wing” alum Bradley Whitford). Bizarre circumstances and behaviors eventually suggest to the boyfriend that his hosts may not be who they initially seem – and that if he doesn’t follow someone else’s very forceful advice to “get out” while he can, he could be doomed. DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; audio commentary by Peele; deleted scenes; alternate ending; Q&A session with Peele and the cast. (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)
“THE GREAT WALL”
After finding about as much action as he can in modern times, thanks primarily to his “Bourne” capers, Matt Damon goes ancient in this adventure that is among the costliest productions yet made in China. Indeed, most of the rest of the cast is foreign (with Willem Dafoe a notable exception) as Damon plays a mercenary who’s among the warriors battling fearsome creatures at the title structure, and the special effects are impressive even if much of the story will seem familiar to anyone who’s seen even one other movie in this genre. Zhang Yimou (“Raise the Red Lantern”) directed the project. (PG-13: V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)
“MASTERPIECE: DARK ANGEL”
In the same week PBS broadcasts it, this true drama gives “Downton Abbey” alum Joanne Froggatt – that show’s Anna, reuniting here with director Brian Percival from that series – the very different role of Mary Ann Cotton, a Victorian-era serial killer. Men who loved her were prime targets of her dastardly deeds, which she accomplished by hiding arsenic in cups of tea. As a measure of how successful she was, it’s estimated that she was responsible for more people’s deaths than Jack the Ripper was. Co-stars include “Downton Abbey” colleague Thomas Howes plus Alun Armstrong, Sam Hoare and Laura Morgan. (Not rated: AS)
“OUTSIDERS: SEASON TWO”
Barring a sale of the series for a third season elsewhere, this set actually can be called “Outsiders: The Final Season,” since WGN America has canceled the drama about warring Appalachian factions – some of them within the same clan. The leader now is G’win (Gillian Alexy), who tries to bring Asa, Hasil and Lil Foster (Joe Anderson, Kyle Gallner, Ryan Hurst) back into the fold to help prevent Sheriff Wade Houghton (Thomas M. Wright) and coal officials from gaining control of the mountain. David Morse, Christina Jackson and Francie Swift also star. DVD extras: deleted scenes. (Not rated: AS, P, V)
“XX”
How scary can women be? They get our vote in this anthology of horror tales by four female filmmakers. A youngster stops eating after seeing what a fellow train passenger is transporting in a box; a woman tries to hide her newly deceased husband’s body during their daughter’s birthday party; four explorers cross paths with a lethal creature in the desert; and in the final segment, written and directed by Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight”), a single mother is forced to reach a crushing conclusion about her son. Cast members include Melanie Lynskey (“Togetherness”), Christina Kirk (“Powerless”) and Sheila Vand (“24: Legacy”). (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)