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Smart ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ on DVD

Thrillers, a drama and several TV series also available

SHARE Smart ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ on DVD
Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), left, talks with Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in a scene from "Charlie Wilson's War."

Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), left, talks with Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in a scene from “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

Francois Duhamel, Universal

The following DVDs will be released Tuesday:

CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated R, $29.98) — *** — A mostly amusing film, based on a true story, features smart performances and even-smarter dialogue. Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman star.

Extras: profile of the real Charlie Wilson, interviews with cast

R (profanity, violence, nudity, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore) —Jeff Vice, Deseret News

CLOVERFIELD (Paramount Home Entertainment, rated PG-13, $29.99) — *** No mere "Blair Monster Project," this sci-fi/thriller is a lean, mean, monster movie.

Extras: alternate endings, deleted scenes, director commentary

PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity) —Jeff Vice, Deseret News

ONE MISSED CALL (Warner Home Entertainment, rated PG-13, $228.98) * 1/2 — This mysterious, "Can you hear me now?" thriller is spoiled by too many answers to too many questions.

PG-13 (violence, sex) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

THE SAVAGES (Fox Home Entertainment, rated R, $27.98) — *** — Actress Laura Linney is the best part of the well-acted, dysfunctional family piece about a brother and sister who must sort through their family's past when their elderly father develops Alzheimer's. Also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The following television shows are new to DVD:

I REMEMBER NELSON (Acorn Media, 2-disc set, not rated, $39.99) It's a good thing there was no YouTube or paparazzi a couple of hundred years ago. If there had been, one of Britain's greatest war heroes might have slipped from his lofty perch.

If you only know that Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson thwarted Napoleon's plans to invade Britain and has a statue to his memory in London's Trafalgar Square, you might want to check out this intriguing four-part drama.

Originally airing on Masterpiece Theatre in 1982, the series takes a point of view from four different persons close to Nelson.

He may have been worshipped in public, but Nelson's private life was decidedly unheroic. He discarded his loving wife, took a friend's wife as a mistress and fathered an illegitimate child by her in secret. —Angelyn N. Hutchinson, Deseret News

HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE (A&E Network, not rated, $24.95 ) — Filmed in remote locations around the globe and using special effects, this documentary explores the Earth's development based on recent scientific findings.

A GLOBAL WARNING? (A&E Network, not rated, $24.95) A full-length documentary surveys the frontline of scientific research and climatic impact.

Some of the upcoming DVD releases include:

April

April 29: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly — Disney/Miramax

April 29: "The Golden Compass" — New Line

April 29: "Moondance Alexander" — Fox

April 29: "Nanking" — ThinkFilm

April 29: "27 Dresses" — Fox

May

May 6: "Ace of Hearts" — Fox

May 6: "P.S. I Love You" — Warner

May 13: "The Great Debaters" — Genius/Weinstein

May 20: "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" — Disney

May 27: "Rambo" — Lionsgate

June

June 3: "Meet the Spartans" — Fox

June 3: "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show" — New Line

June 10: "The Bucket List" — Warner