New DVD Releases

The 1980 slasher movie Friday the 13th began an enormously successful franchise with at least 12 feature films so far. The franchise has made Jason Voorhees, the hockey-mask-wearing mass murderer, into a pop culture icon. Jason is a nonverbal, indestructible psychopath who has been played by a series of stuntmen. Now comes the 2009 Friday the 13th, which is basically a franchise reboot that depicts people being impaled, beheaded, burned alive, etc. The story still takes place at Crystal Lake, and the movie showcases good-looking young women going topless.

This Disney documentary is about a group of young adults who prepare for and compete in the 2007 Transpac, a grueling 2200-mile yacht race that begins in Los Angeles and ends in Honolulu. Ranging in age from 18 to 23, the sailors are clean-cut and make good role models. There are 15 of them who undergo rigorous training for months, but when it comes time for the race itself, only 11 can be on board their boat, which is named Morning Light. The documentary shows some beautiful seascapes and promotes the virtues of self-discipline and teamwork.

Since 2002 Tyler Perry has written, directed and produced a series of popular movies featuring predominantly African-American casts. In some of his films, he appears as an actor. His best-known character is a recurring one named Mabel "Madea" Simmons, and he dons a wig and women's clothing to play her. In Madea Goes to Jail, he portrays not only the title character, but two others as well. But the principal storyline is a melodrama about a young prosecutor (Derek Luke) and a streetwalker (Keshia Knight Pulliam). Viola Davis plays a minor role, and Dr. Phil appears as himself.