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1776, directed by Peter H. Hunt ( PG, 168 minutes) Making its Blu- ray debut is this musical celebration, released in 1972, of the founding of the United States based on the award- winning 1969 Broadway production. The story, a history lesson that is defined by the language of exuberant song and dance, centers on familiar historical characters who cavort like scrappy kids as they organize a movement for independence from Great Britain.
Among them are tough and unyielding John Adams ( William Daniels), charming and pragmatic Benjamin Franklin ( Howard Da Silva), brilliant young Thomas Jefferson ( Ken Howard), who is chosen to write the Declaration of Independence even as he longs for the company of his new bride,
Martha ( Blythe Danner, the mother of Gwyneth Paltrow), and the rest of the Continental Congress.
If you get your history from the movies, you get the history you deserve. But this musical romp might encourage you to find out more about how our country came to be.
Blu- ray bonus features include new commentary with director Peter H. Hunt, Daniels and Howard, an extended cut, deleted and alternate scenes with filmmaker commentary, four never- before- seen screen tests, and the original theatrical trailer.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water ( PG, 93 minutes) You’re either A SpongeBob SquarePants fan, or you’re not. This is for fans, an animated adventure in which SpongeBob and his pals head to the real world in search of a stolen recipe, which leads them to a confrontation with a formidable pirate. Animated, with voices of Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Carolyn Lawrence, Antonio Banderas; directed by Paul Tibbitt.
Apollo 13 ( PG, 140 minutes) This is the 20th anniversary edition of a 1995 thriller directed by Ron Howard, in which a space flight notifies Mission Control with the chilling words, “Houston, we have a problem.” Stranded 205,000 miles from earth in a spacecraft, astronauts Jim Lovell ( Tom Hanks), Fred Haise ( Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert ( Kevin Bacon) use all their training, creativity and wits to fight a battle to survive. With Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan. Blu- ray extras include commentary by the director and Jim and Marilyn Lovell, the theatrical trailer, and assorted space- related featurettes.
Focus ( R, 104 minutes) Clever give- and- take between Will Smith and Margot Robbie is the key to the slippery and intermittent success of this airy crime comedy that concerns an experienced con man and a surprisingly talented and fast- learning apprentice. With Gerald McRaney, Rodrigo Santoro; directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.
Jupiter Ascending ( PG- 13, 125 minutes) The only reason to see this good- looking yet mediocre futuristic sci- fi actioner is if you enjoy watching the always agreeable and appealing Channing Tatum. Here he plays a genetically engineered ex- military hunter named Caine who’s tracking down Jupiter Jones ( Mila Kunis), a seemingly undistinguished and unfortunate young house cleaner who possesses a genetic signature that makes her very, very important to the future of the universe. With Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean; directed by Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski.
Camp X- Ray ( R, 111 minutes) Fine performances add a great deal to this stagy character study in which, to satisfy her dream of escaping a humdrum small- town existence and the urge to become a participant in something she sees as important, scrappy young Cole ( Kristen Stewart) joins the Army. After training, the private is sent to be a guard at Cuba’s infamous Guantanamo Bay naval base, where she finds herself ethically challenged by one of the detainees and at odds with her commanding officers. With Peyman Moaadi, Julia Duffy; directed by Peter Sattler.