NEW ON THE SHELF

“WAR HORSE,” starring Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson. Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Steven Spielberg’s sumptuous and heart-rending WWI-era drama has a broad audience appeal, but will particularly touch animal lovers, as the particular bond between man and beast has rarely been explored with such beauty and sensitivity. Young Albert (Irvine) bonds with a thoroughbred horse as a boy, is separated from it when it’s sold to the British cavalry, and is reunited under unusual and potentially tragic circumstances. Special features include a making-of documentary. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of war violence. Running time: 2:26

Suggested retail price: $29.99; Blu-ray $45.99

“WE BOUGHT A ZOO,” starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. Director Cameron Crowe (“Almost Famous”) applies his usual winning, soundtrack-minded approach to this adaptation of Benjamin Mee’s popular memoir, in which a bereaved journalist (Damon) seeks a much-needed change of scenery following the passing of his beloved wife, and, as you may have guessed, inheriting a zoo in the process. Rated PG. Running time: 2:04

Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $39.99

“MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE,” starring Madonna and Warren Beatty. Controversial 1991 doc finds the Material Girl in rare form in the midst of her “Blonde Ambition” tour, allowing viewers an all-access backstage pass to her hectic, often outrageous existence. Madonna, unsurprisingly, proves a hugely entertaining subject, engaging in all manner of odd antics and misbehavior with her backup dancers and, in one notorious scene, reacting hilariously to a sheepish Kevin Costner. Rated R. Running time: 2:00

Suggested retail price: $9.98; Blu-ray $14.99

NEW TO BLU-RAY

“CHINATOWN,” starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Roman Polanski’s enduring 1974 modern classic is the film noir all other film noirs aspire to be, with Nicholson’s hard-boiled, famously bandaged private dick skulking around 1930s-era Los Angeles, investigating an adultery case that turns out to be considerably more far-reaching and complex than originally believed. Special features include an audio commentary from Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Towne and filmmaker and fan David Fincher. Rated R. Running time: 2:10

Suggested retail price: $26.98

“CLEOPATRA,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. A favorite target of critics for decades now, this 1963 would-be epic is worth seeing for the over-the-top splendor alone, with sets and costumes that have yet to be surpassed even today, all of which is simply stunning in this remastered 50th-anniversary edition. And of course, nobody hams it up with as much entertaining abandon as the great Taylor and Burton. At three hours and 12 minutes, “Cleopatra” might be a bit much for some audiences to handle, but “a bit much” appears to be exactly what director Joseph Mankiewicz (“All About Eve”) was shooting for.

Suggested retail price: $44.98

VIDEOPORT PICKS

“BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY,” documentary. Though we appreciate the furry red monster’s ability to keep our kids occupied while we try to get some dishes done, it’s safe to say that we tend to view the ubiquitous Elmo as something of a mixed bag. You can’t hate something that your kids love with this level of enthusiasm, but that squeaky voice, the incessant squealing and flopping around, it gets old. “Being Elmo” makes up for this inevitable Elmo fatigue by revealing his creator and voice, one Kevin Clash, to be just about as kind and relatable a guy as you could want spending time with your kids, and the scenes of Clash and Elmo interacting with children are alternately familiar and revelatory. Hugely touching, and a lot of fun. Rated PG for some mild language, including a brief drug reference. Running time: 1:20

Suggested retail price: $29.95

“TYRANNOSAUR,” starring Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. Actor-turned-director Paddy Considine seems to make a concentrated effort to face the bleakest, most downbeat material head on in his modest but compelling oeuvre, and with “Tyrannosaur,” he pulls out all the stops. Here, he introduces us to Joseph (Mullan), an unemployed, violent alcoholic, and Hannah (Colman), a kindly Christian shopkeep and the victim of relentless abuse from her horrible husband, James (Eddie Marsan). Mainly exploring the budding and complex relationship between Joseph and Hannah, “Tyrannosaur” is above all a study in acting, as the leads are asked to portray emotions and scenes that few would wish to experience in real life, let alone watch in a film. Running time: 1:32

Suggested retail price: $27.99