Owls Head — The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Summit, Blu-ray or 2 standard DVDs, PG-13, 117 min.). We’ve been with the characters for three films, so director Bill Condon has no need to set any stage. The invites have gone out for the marriage of human teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) to vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) bursts out of his house, throws his invite on the ground, rips off his shirt and bounds off into the woods in his werewolf form. Condon certainly knows the elements that make the films appealing.

Edward then tells Bella of an early killing spree he had as a just-turned vampire and she has a nightmare of their wedding that goes horribly wrong. Twelve minutes in, the real wedding begins and then it is off to the honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro and a nearby island. At this point, the film is a cross between Architectural Digest and a soundtrack promo, but fans will enjoy seeing Edward act almost human and forget to be brooding for a bit. When the honeymoon reaches the two-week point, Bella realizes she is pregnant and the rest of the film deals with that, both the detrimental effects the fetus has on Bella’s health (via special effects, she goes from about 120 pounds to 80) and the wolf pack’s decision to kill both the child and Bella. The latter also manages to drive a wedge between Jacob and the pack. For a film in which so little happens, it actually sails by.

Bonus features include audio commentary with Condon; an 87-minute, six-part documentary on the making of the film (most interesting are the bits on filming in Rio and rendering the wolf scenes, including the concluding battle); a 7:21 overview of Jacob’s story arc; a video wedding album with the actors, in character, wishing the couple their best (8:33); and the ability to jump just to Jacob or Edward scenes. Grade: film 3 stars; extras 3.5 stars

Rating guide: 5 stars = classic; 4 stars = excellent; 3 stars = good; 2 stars = fair; dog = skip it

The Guard (Sony, Blu-ray or standard DVD, R, 96 min.). Filmed in Ireland and set in Connemara, writer/director John Michael McDonagh gives us a wonderful film, ripe with black humor. It is anchored by the performance of Brendan Gleeson (Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody of the Harry Potter films) as Irish police sergeant (or garda, hence the title) Gerry Boyle. To state the obvious, the fun has gone out of Boyle’s life, except for his pre-arranged romps with prostitutes from Dublin. We initially see a car with five teenagers speeding down the road. They pass Boyle’s police car, but he does not move until their car flips and crashes. He then searches the bodies for any drugs he can use.

Boyle then gets a new partner (Rory Keenan as straight-laced Aidan McBride) and a murder case. Boyle’s reactions to McBride are hilarious. Then Boyle is called into a conference about a half billion worth of cocaine that may be being smuggled into the area by boat. Brought in to help is FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle of “Iron Man 2” and “Rush Hour 2”) and they are paired together, even though Boyle constantly pushes Everett’s buttons verbally. For example, at the conference he says he thought all drug dealers were blacks or Mexicans, and when his boss tries to shut him up, he says, “I’m Irish. Racism is part of my culture.” At one point while they are working together, Everett tells Boyle he does not know if he is really stupid or really brilliant (only he uses the “f” word, which is probably used at least 300 times in the film, so beware). Of course that is what makes the film so much fun; Boyle is smarter than he appears. There’s a western type shootout ending, complete with music that echoes Sergio Leone, against the drug smugglers, who are amusing and interesting in their own right. Liam Cunningham plays Francis Sheehy, while Clive Cornell plays the more philosophical one. There also is good work by Fionnula Flanagan as Boyle’s dying mother, Eileen.

There are plenty of extras on the Blu-ray, which also has subtitles that proved a handy option. The director and two stars do an audio commentary and are part of a question-and-answer at the LA Film Festival (18:09). There are 14 extended scenes (18:37, including a hilarious one involving the first murder suspect), three deleted scenes (6:07) and outtakes (3:05). Also included is McDonagh’s earlier short film, “The Second Death” (11:32), which uses some of the same actors and serves as a genesis for the final film, and a 19:21 look at the making of “The Guard.” Grade: film 3.75 stars; extras 3.5 stars

Drive (Sony, Blu-ray or standard DVD, R, 100 min.). Ryan Gosling plays a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. He also works in a garage for old friend/manager Shannon (Bryan Cranston of TV’s “Breaking Bad”), who goes to two crooks (Albert Brooks as Bernie Rose and Ron Perlman as Nino) for a loan to start up a car racing effort. Gosling’s driver (we never get his name) is taciturn and very passive in most scenes, unless he is driving. You get the sense that he is like a coiled spring, ready to explode at some point, which he does in one of the two scenes of extreme violence in the film. The driver is drawn to a neighbor (Carey Mulligan as Irene), who has a young son and a husband in prison. When the husband gets out, he is forced into a robbery to pay off a large debt and the driver agrees to help, but the robbery, which proves bogus, turns deadly, and a superb cat-and-mouse game follows.

The electronic-based score by Cliff Martinez is cool as well and adds to the suspense. Extras include four featurettes, including one on the driving stunts, plus an interview with director Nicolas Winding Refn. Grade: film 3.5 stars; extras 2.75 stars

In Time (Fox, Blu-ray or Stoddard DVD, PG-13, 109 min.). The film, which was written, directed and produced by Andrew Niccol, sets up an interesting world (more of which we learn about in the 16:35 long extra that gives background) in which time has become the monetary unit. Also, when people turn 25, a genetic clock is turned on that gives them one year left to live, unless they acquire more time. That clock also stops their aging at 25, making it hard to determine whether someone is a daughter, wife or mother for example. The amount of time each person has is displayed on their forearm. Also, the country has been divided into different time zones, with the wealthy living in New Greenwich.

Justin Timberlake plays Will Salas, now 25 plus 3, who is barely making it by. His mom, 25 plus 25, is played by Olivia Wilde, but she is not long for the film, as the system in place demands the poor must die so the rich can live longer, and she is caught short and out of time when the bus fare is arbitrarily doubled. (Basically, by controlling, and raising, prices, the rich control the lives of the poor.) Salas helps Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer of TV’s “White Collar”) escape gangster Fortris (Alex Pettyfer), who is after the 100 years Hamilton has. However, during the night, Hamilton, actually 105 and tired of life, transfers all but a few minutes to the sleeping Salas and then commits suicide. Soon, everyone is after Salas and that time. That includes Fortris and Timekeeper Raymond Leo (Cillian Murphy), who believes Salas stole the time. With his mother gone, Salas takes off for New Greenwich, where he beats billionaire Philippe Weis (Vincent Karthheiser) at cards for an enormous amount of time. Salas also meets Weis’ daughter Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried). One things leads to another and soon they are executing a combination of Bonnie and Clyde and Robin Hood throughout the land, stealing from her father’s time banks (a key development was the ability to store units of time in mechanical devices) and giving to the poor with little time. It may seem old, but it plays well.

Bonus features include the aforementioned look at the world and creation of time as currency, with the actors interviewed in character; and 10 deleted scenes (12:52), including a flashback to Salas’ father’s death; taking time out to dance while being chased; and more of Sylvia saying the rich only live lives of never doing anything foolish. Grade: film 3 stars; extras 2.5 stars

The Thing (Universal, Blu-ray or standard DVD, R, 103 min.). While not a bad movie, this “The Thing” is an unnecessary movie. It is presented as a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 film, “The Thing,” which starred Kurt Russell, but it essentially is a remake with the only major change an update in the special effects (which, I must admit, are quite impressive, especially the two faces melted together), but the extensive use of flamethrowers is the same. Carpenter’s film itself was another version of the 1951 film “The Thing From Another World,” starring James Arness. Both this film and the 1951 film also cite the source short story, John Campbell’s “Who Goes There?” The basic premise is an alien life form crashes in the Antarctic and, not only is it hostile, but it has the ability to take the form of other living creatures. Thus, the research tema is left with who is human and who is not. The original short story and film were steeped in Cold War paranoia. I was disappointed the basically you could not see the alien spaceship because it was so dark, and the film cheaps out when a helicopter crash occurs off-camera. Oh, and the music is not subtle at all.

The extras include audio commentary by director Mathijs van Heijningen Jr. and producer Eric Newman; seven deleted and extended scenes (9:15); a 14-minute making-of that shows the creature effects and how the film tried to match small details in Carpenter’s film; and a look at the flame thrower use (4:47). Grade: film and extras 2.5 stars

Dream House (Universal, Blu-ray or standard DVD, PG-13, 92 min.). Despite a cast headlined by Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz, “Dream House” is a nightmare, with one absurd twist halfway through -- at which point the film lost me -- and then a coincidental later twist needed to justify the whole film. Will Atenten (Craig, with a film name so awkward I should have known what was coming) moves into a new house with his wife Libby (Weisz) and their two young daughters. Their idyllic time does not last long, as he learns a family was murdered in the house and local teenagers use the basement for rituals. Watts plays neighbor Ann Petterson, who is in a bitter custody dispute with her husband Jack (Marton Csokar). Oh yes, you will also notice Elias Koteas lurking at the train station; he comes to play late in the film. To say more would have to give some big stuff away; I’ll only say this dream house falls apart once the twist is revealed. Extras include brief looks at the cast, closing scene and making of the film (less than 16 min. total). Grade: film 2 stars; extras 1.5 stars

The Double (Image, Blu-ray or standard DVD, PG-13, 98 min.). This spy caper stars Richard Gere as Paul Shepherdson, a retired CIA operative whose big accomplishment was bring down a Russian assassin they called Cassius and his ring of seven, although Cassius himself was never captured. Cassius had a unique signature kill, using a wire across the front of the throat, but thrusting upwards instead of across. Now, a U.S. senator (played by Ed Kelly) is killed in similar fashion. The CIA director (Martin Sheen) brings in Shepherdson to work the case and assigns young, inexperienced FBI analyst Ben Geary (Topher Grace, a bit lightweight for the role) to work with him. When even though the title kind of gives it away, co-writer/director Michael Brandt reveals who the double is 30 minutes into the film. After that comes several twists that seem intended to shore that up and make sure the film can continue. The problem is that, even with the twist, everything is a bit ordinary, and the low-budget locations do not help. With a bit more imagination, excitement and production values on screen, the basic idea could have worked a lot better; here, it just left me flat DVD extras include audio commentary by Brandt and co-writer Derek Haas and a featurette (7:49) in which Gere gives away the first secret in the first sentence and, by the end of which, you know everything there is to know about the film. Do not watch it first by any means. Grade: film 2.75 stars; extras 2 stars

Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (BBC, Blu-ray or standard DVD, NR, 58 min.). This is the 2011 Christmas special, with The Doctor acting on his own sans companions. The time is World War II and a madcap-acting Doctor (Matt Smith) has fixed up a house in Dorset especially for just-widowed Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner) and her two children, who have been evacuated from London. Her husband’s plan has gone down during a bombing mission and she has not told the children yet. One of the Christmas surprises he has installed is a box that leads to another, wintry planet. There, they encounter tree intelligences threatened by extinction. Bonus features include a prequel and three “The Best of Doctor Who” features, totaling 140 min. There also is a code for use in the online Doctor Who Worlds in Time game. Grade: episode 3.25 stars

Doctor Who: The Sensorites (1964, BBC DVD, 150 min.). This is the seventh overall Doctor Who story, starring  the original actor, William Hartnell. In it, The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan land on a spaceship orbiting a distant, mysterious world, where a human crew lies frozen between life and death. The planet is known as the Sense-Sphere, home to the Sensorites, beings of immense intelligence and power. However, are they friendly or hostile. The Doctor and his companions must find out. Extras include audio commentary by actors William Russell (Ian), Carol Ann Ford (Susan), Joe Greig (Second Sensorite), Martyn Huntley (First Human), Giles Phibba (Second Human), director Frank Cox, designer Raymond Cusick and make-up designer Sonia Markham; Toby Hadoke searching for the enigmatic Peter R. Newman (21 min.); seven minutes on what a Vision Mixer does; a brief bit about the origins of the eerie Sensorite voices; and a photo gallery.

Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani (1084, BBC, 2 DVDs, NR, 99 min.). This special edition has been expanded to two discs from the initial single-disc release. The Doctor is played by Peter Davison in the 136th story of the series. The world of Androzani Minor is riddled with caves and in the midst of a war between the ruthless General Chellak and the sinister  Sharaz Jek and his army of androids. Politician Trau Morgus wants Chellak to execute The Doctor and Peri as spies, but Jek wants to keep Peri as his prize. If the was not enough, The Doctor learns they have been infected with spectrox toxemia and have two hours left to live. DVD extras include audio commentary by actors Davison, Nicole Bryant (Peri) and director Graeme Harper.; a 36-minute making-of feature; Harper talking about directing Doctor Who (12 min.); behind-the-scenes looks at regeneration and creating Jek; four minutes of extended scenes; a Russell Harty interview with Davison and Colin Baker (Baker takes over the role of The Doctor during this story); an isolated music score; and a photo gallery. Note that tree harvesting by a crew from Andozani Major is a factor in “The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe.” Davison considered this to be his favorites story in the role.

Doctor Who: The Android Invasion (1975, BBC, NR, 98 min.). In story 83, Tom Baker plays The Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen is his companion Sarah Jane Smith. The TARDIS lands in the sleepy English village of Devesham and The Doctor thinks he has finally gotten Sarah home, but the village is deserted and white-suited spacemen patrol the countryside. Allies UNIT have changed to and are led by Senior Defense Astronaut Guy Crayford. It seems Earth is already being invaded by the Kraals. Extras include audio commentary by actors Milton Johns (Crayford), Martin Friend (Styggron), producer Philip Hinchcliffe and production assistant Marion McDougal; a 30-minute making-of feature; 29 minutes of Hinchcliffe’s life after Doctor Who; and a photo gallery.

Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974, BBC, 2 DVDs, NR, 128 min.). For story 71, Jon Pertwee played The Doctor and journalist Sarah Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen) was making her second appearance as his companion. It also marked the penultimate appearance of Richard Franklin’s character, UNIT Capt. Mike Yates. The times is 1970s London, but the city is almost devoid of life, having been evacuated due to terrorizing dinosaurs. The monsters are being brought to the present by a disaffected scientist, using a time machine nicknamed the Timescoop, as part of a plan to revert London to a utopian pre-technological age. The plan calls for Central London to be depopulated prior to being moved back through time, so that only an elite group (who will re-found the human race in the remote past, along more ethical lines) will make the trip. (Hello “Terra Nova,” with a bit of “Primeval” thrown in.) Extras include audio commentary by actors Franklin, Peter Miles (Professor Whitaker), Terrence Wilton (Mack), designer Richard Morris, script editor Terrance Dicks and director Paddy Russell; additional commentary by John Levine (Sgt. Benton) for 10 minutes on part five; a 32-minute making of; four minutes of deleted scenes; a 13-minute now and then look at locations; Part 1 of Doctor Who Stories: Elisabeth Sladen (14 min.); the option to play part 1 of the feature in a new color-recovered version or pre-existing black and white; and a photo gallery.

Primeval: Volume Three (BBC, 4 Blu-ray discs, NR, 581 min.). I miss the original cast of this series. Now, in what actually was broadcast as the fourth series, it is one year after the death of Johnson and the ARC has been shaken by the long-term disappearance of  Abby, Connor and team leader Danny. Entrepreneurial scientist Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig)has taken charge of the operation and is building a new team. There is ex-soldier and zoologist Matt Anderson (Ciaran McMenamin), who has a secret agenda, and team coordinator Jess Parker (Ruth Kearney). Luckily for the viewers, zookeeper Abby Maitland (Hannah Spearritt) and student Connor Temple (Andrew-Lee Potts) do return from the Cretaceous, although they are forced to earn back their old jobs, as currently only military personnel can go into the field. The set includes 13 episodes, the six of series four and the seven of series five. Series five starts with Burton recruiting Connor for his secret New Dawn project. Which would use the energy from the time anomalies to solve the world’s energy crisis.

The show actually had been cancelled after the third series, but three months later series four and five were announced. At this time, there is no word on a sixth series, but there is the possibility of a feature film and a Canadian spin-off series. Grade: series four and five 3 stars

The Adventures of Merlin: The Complete Third Season (BBC, 5 DVDs, NR, 562 min.). This is one of the best of the before-they-were famous series, after “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” and “Smallville.” It tells of young Merlin (Colin Morgan), who had arrived in Camelot to study under court physician Gaius (Richard Wilson), but is told he must hide his magical powers as King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head) has outlawed magic. Young Prince Arthur (Bradley James), over the first two seasons, as come to rely on Merlin as a bit more than a servant and has fallen for the lovely Gwen (Angel Coulby), currently servant girl to Morgana (Katie McGrath), the king’s ward, who is secretly a seer, able to see the future, and works for the king’s downfall. Over the 13 episodes here, Morgana’s true nature and agenda emerges, as she becomes the enemy of Merlin that history writes about. She is in league with Morgause and tries to turn the king insane early on. At one point, Morgana and Morgause raise an army of the dead to attack Camelot. In one change of pace episode, the king gets engaged to a woman who is nary as beautiful as she appears. Extras include cast and crew audio commentaries; deleted scenes and outtakes; a look at the making of the season; a photo gallery; and wallpapers. Season four is currently being shown and a film season is to start filming next month. Grade: season 3.5 stars; extras 3 stars