On Demand/DVD New Releases: Feb. 18-24

Meredith Ennis

13 years ago

Among this week’s new releases are a couple of literary classics (Anna Karenina and Atlas Shrugged), a real-life action adventure story about a fake movie crew (Argo) and a look at real movie director and his wife (Hitchcock). There’s Fun Size, about a babysitter’s dilemma (her charge has gone missing) and Ted, about a man whose childhood friend has become a grown-up problem: a not-suitable-for-kids, walking, talking, teddy bear. The following On Demand/DVD New Releases are available this week:

Anna Karenina Keira Knightley and Jude Law star in director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) lush adaptation of the classic Tolstoy novel about the affair between a Russian socialite and an affluent count. Also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (R) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Argo Ben Affleck directs and stars in this acclaimed dramatization of the daring operation between the CIA and Canada to rescue six American diplomats who had become fugitives in revolutionary Iran. The scheme involved staging the production of a fake movie. Also stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman (R) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike The second part of a planned trilogy adaptation of Ayn Rand’s seminal free-market novel finds the global economy on the brink of collapse. Dagny Taggart (now played by Samantha Mathis) tries to keep her railroad company afloat while the world wonders where all the prominent industrialists and artists have gone. Also stars Jason Beghe, Esai Morales (PG-13) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Fun Size A teen’s plans to go to a vitally important Halloween party are derailed when her younger brother, whom she’s supposed to be babysitting, goes missing. Victoria Justice, Jane Levy, Chelsea Handler (PG-13) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Hitchcock This fun bit of Hollywood history features Anthony Hopkins delivering an iconic portrayal of famed director Alfred Hitchcock, as the Master of Suspense prepares to make his riskiest movie to date, the seminal 1960 horror film Psycho. Helen Mirren plays his wife, Alma, who played a large part in motivating him. Also stars Scarlett Johansson (PG-13) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Lake Placid: The Final Chapter The fourth entry into the giant-croc franchise follows efforts to keep the beasts from wreaking terror on a group of young people who have gotten trapped inside the protective area meant to seclude the creatures. Elisabeth Röhm, Yancy Butler, Robert Englund (R) 2/19

The Mooring A group of teenage girls on a summer retreat are plunged into a nightmare when their houseboat becomes stranded in the middle of a river, and the couple who comes to their aid turn out to be psychopathic killers. Hallie Todd, Karli Blalock, Anna Goodwin (R) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Sinister Ethan Hawke plays a true-crime writer researching the murder of a family when he finds a collection of snuff films of other murders that appear to be connected. Also stars Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton Thompson (R) 2/19 Same day as DVD

Small Apartments This surreal, dark comedy is littered with familiar faces, and tells the oddball story of a strange man who kills his landlord, and his hapless attempts to cover it up. Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, Juno Temple (R) 2/19

Ted (Special Edition) Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, makes his feature directorial debut in this gleefully foulmouthed tale about a man who wished his teddy bear to life as a child, and still is dealing with the consequences as an adult. Their friendship is tested when the man wants to get serious in his latest relationship. Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, voice of Seth MacFarlane (R) 2/19

Also available this week: Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome 2/19, Same day as DVD

Availability dates subject to change. Check your cable provider for ordering information.

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