One of best in ‘Alien’ series
New on Blu-ray
Alien: Covenant 20th Century Fox DVD, $29.98; Blu-ray, $34.99; 4K, $39.99; also available on VOD
Director Ridley Scott follows up his disappointing “Prometheus” with something much livelier and continues his reinvention of the franchise he helped create in 1979. The new film is another “Alien” prequel, following colonists as they land on a world that proves potentially dangerous to humankind. Michael Fassbender reprises his “Prometheus” role as a scarily intelligent model of helper-android, while a team of screenwriters that includes John Logan (best known for “Gladiator” and “Skyfall”) expands on the deeper meanings of the simple humanity-versus-monsters plot of the original movie, creating an undisguised biblical allegory. This “Alien” is both entertaining and thoughtful — one of the best of the series.
Special features: A Scott commentary, deleted scenes and extensive behind-thescenes featurettes
VOD
Dave Made a Maze Available Friday
In writer-director Bill Watterson’s whimsical indie comedy, a slacker artist (played by Nick Thune) constructs a labyrinth in his living room out of refrigerator boxes and then gets lost inside, prompting his friends, girlfriend and a documentary film crew to go in after him. The premise is intentionally preposterous, and as is often the case with these kinds of films, these so-called adults behave like precociously foul-mouthed adolescents. But the elaborate set is like a kid’s dream fort, filled with gadgets, booby traps and a Minotaur. It’s so much fun to look at that what happens inside almost doesn’t matter.
TV set of the week
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow The Complete Second Season Warner Bros. DVD, $39.99; Blu-ray, $44.98
The first season of the CW’s time-hopping superteam adventure was a bummer, with its tedious, confusing plot and overly dour characters. But the second season introduces a wider and more likable variety of heroes, and sending them on more light-hearted, self-contained missions. Those who prefer their comic book adaptations fun, not heavy, should take a second look at “Legends” if they dropped it during its first run.
Special features: Deleted scenes, a gag reel, a featurette and a Comic-Con panel
From the archives
Meantime Criterion DVD, $29.95; Blu-ray, $39.95
British filmmaker Mike Leigh had one of his first successes with this 1983 TV movie, which helped introduce Tim Roth and Gary Oldman. Roth stars as a painfully shy young man trying to find a place for himself in a London ravaged by unemployment and violent gangs. Oldman has a small part as a skinhead, and Alfred Molina has a scenestealing turn as a businessman who is too chilly and distant for his wife, beautifully played by Leigh regular Marion Bailey. A bleak but energetic look at England in the early Thatcher era, “Meantime” marked Leigh as an artist with a keen eye and something to say.
Special features: Interviews with some of the principals
Three more to see
Blind Lionsgate DVD, $18.98; also available on VOD Chuck Paramount DVD, $29.99; Bluray, $39.99; also available on VOD The Wall Lionsgate DVD, $19.98; Blu-ray, $24.99; also available on VOD calendar@latimes.com