Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • February 26, 2014 DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first shut- tle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) in command. When the shuttle is destroyed, Stone and Kowalski are completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and floating into the far reaches of space. The profound silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and have little chance of being rescued. Masterful special effects, particularly elaborate wire work to simulate weightlessness, create the illusion that everything is occurring in space. Clooney plays Kowalski as self-assured, strong, and calm, while Bullock’s Dr. Stone goes from confident technician to a person fearful and then panicked as their situation spirals into grave danger. In many cases, Hollywood has used 3D more to boost ticket prices than to enhance the dramatic impact of movies. In “Gravity,” however, the 3D does make a difference. It enhances the impression of the vastness of the universe and the terror when things go amiss. The Blu-ray 3D combo pack will duplicate the theatrical experience for those with 3D TVs. The three-disc set also contains Blu-ray 2D, DVD, and digital HD ultraviolet versions. There is also a sepa- rate two-disc Blu-ray/DVD edition. Featurettes reveal how some of the effects were achieved and why “Gravity” took four years to make. “Thor: The Dark World” (Disney) stars Chris Hems- worth in his third appearance as the god of thunder. This time, someone or something has unleashed the Aether, a reddish gas that can invade bodies. The Nine Realms are coming into alignment, a rare occurrence that will create portals from one world to another, allowing Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) and his band of Dark Elves to enter and attack Asgard, continuing a feud that has lasted for thousands of years. Director Alan Taylor stuffs a lot of information into an exposition-filled prologue that leaves viewers impatient for the first appearance of Thor. Not a terribly imaginative director, Taylor relies on typical superhero movie hyperac- tivity, with numerous battles, lots of hammer scenes, and mayhem galore. Now there are modern weapons blazing, hand grenades exploding, and anti-aircraft guns rat-tat-tat- ting at low-flying aircraft. The one redeeming feature is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. This is an actor who absolutely commands the screen, and he does it with a minimum of pizzazz, relying on sheer talent and a piercing look to convey the enigma that is Thor’s crafty brother. The two-disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray 2D edition contains a digital HD ultraviolet version, extended and deleted scenes, gag reel, and a preview of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” “You Will Be My Son” (Cohen Media Group) is a grip- ping psychological thriller. Paul (Niels Arestrup) is the passionate but abusive proprietor of his prestigious family wine estate in the Bordeaux region of France. Paul lords it over all his employees, including his son Martin (Lorant Deutsch), who works at the vineyard in administration and sales. Paul has no confidence in Martin’s ability to take over the operation after he is gone, even after Martin secures a lucrative export deal. Instead, Paul puts his faith in Philippe (Nicolas Bridet), the son of his estate manager. Charismatic Philippe has come home from California, where he made a name for himself in Napa Valley, to care for his cancer- ridden father. Immediately, a rivalry between Martin and Philippe begins. This suspenseful tale of jealousy, frustration, ambition, and bitterness is in French, with English subtitles. Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and an interview with Deutsch and director Gilles Legrand. “Twice Born” (E One), based on the best-seller by Mar- garet Mazzantini, finds Italian professor Gemma (Penelope Cruz) heading off on a summer vacation to battle-scarred Sarajevo with her discontented teenaged son Pietro to show him where she fell in love with his father, Diego (Emile Hirsch). She is about to discover a long-hidden secret that will reveal far more about their past than her haunted mem- ories can disclose. Years before, Gemma traveled to a very different Sarajevo, an electric, youthful city in the midst of the triumphant 1984 Winter Olympics, where she began a love affair with American photographer Diego. Her desire to start a family with him was complicated by an inability to conceive and the brutal Balkan war. The Sarajevo conflict is supposed to add drama to Gemma’s personal difficulties, and it does to an extent. The third act reveals a number of surprises that elevate the film to something more than a wartime romance. Bonuses on the DVD release include interviews with Cruz and director Sergio Castellitto.