THE LIST: DVDs, CDs and books hitting shelves week of July 28
DVDs
“Fast & Furious” (PG-13): The fourth installment in the franchise reteams original stars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, who try to take down a local drug lord (John Ortiz) eager to add the twosome to his elite driving team.
In “Dragonball: Evolution” (PG), a live-action version of the Japanese animé favorite, young warrior Goku (Justin Chatwin) must outrace demonic Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) for control of seven magical orbs that give the possessor unlimited power. And in “Miss March” (R), a virginal high schooler (Zach Cregger) awakens from a four-year coma to find his sweetie (Raquel Alessi) starring as the centerfold in a certain famous men’s magazine.
Roman Polanski’s English-language debut, 1965’s skin-crawling “Repulsion” (not rated), makes its Blu-Ray Disc debut, along with the 1984 rockumentary spoof “This Is Spinal Tap” (R), Robert Redford’s 1992 “A River Runs Through It” (PG) and Terry Gilliam’s 1995 “12 Monkeys” (R).
Also due on DVD: “Bart Got a Room” (PG-13), “El Camino” (not rated), “An American Affair” (R), “Streets of Blood” (R), “Becoming Charley Chase” (not rated), the documentary “Harvard Beats Yale 29-29” (not rated) and the unrated TV titles “Life on Mars: The Complete Series,” “The Middleman: The Complete Series,” “The Judy Garland Show: Vol. One,” “Dollhouse: Season One,” “Knight Rider (2008): Season One,” “Early Edition: The Second Season,” “The Donna Reed Show: The Complete Second Season,” “Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5,” “Torchwood: Children of Earth,” “Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead,” “A Touch of Frost: Season 14” and “Armchair Thriller: Set One.”
CDs
Fabolous, “Loso’s Way”: Fabolous has always been the hip-hop version of the utility infielder in baseball, a talented jack-of-all-trades who can play a variety of roles without ever dominating any of them.
As such, he’s long been on rap’s B-team, notching plenty of doubles and triples while seldom going yard.
Still, he’s skilled enough to make his albums consistently worthwhile, and he 's got enough cache to always lure in a bevy of big name producers and guest MCs.
This go-round, he teams up with the likes of Jay-Z, Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo, balancing gangsta tropes with a radio-friendly pop savvy.
No, he may not be a game changer, but as “Loso’s Way” continues to demonstrate, Fabolous can still round the bases with sufficient aplomb.
Also in stores: Angus Khan, “Black Leather Soul”; Bad Boy Bill, “The Album”; Kristinia DeBarge, “Exposed”; Howling Bells, “Radio Wars”; Trashcan Sinatras, “In the Music”; and YACHT, “See Mystery Lights.”
BOOKS
“The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Stieg Larsson: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander are back in action in this sequel to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
After two friends investigating the sex trade industry are murdered, Blomkvist finds himself in the middle of a scandalous expose implicating some powerful people. Salander comes under suspicion in the slayings, but Blomkvist is sure she is innocent and begins his own inquiry. Salander not only has the authorities after her, but some very dangerous criminals want her dead, and her flight from them will have her excising ghosts from her past.
Also expected out this week, after delays and much anticipation, is “Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Dead and Alive,” book three and the conclusion of the series, where a soulless creature and his crazy creator will have their final confrontation.
Also hitting shelves this week: “Dying for Mercy: A Novel of Suspense” by Mary Jane Clark; “A Good Night for Ghosts (Magic Tree House Series No. 42)” by Mary Pope Osborne; “Hodd” by Adam Thorpe; “Hot Pursuit” by Suzanne Brockmann; “Labor Day” by Joyce Maynard; “The Last Bridge” by Teri Coyne; “Notes from the Dog” by Gary Paulsen; “Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America” by Kurt Andersen; and “Watch the Skies (Daniel X)” by James Patterson.
