New to DVD: Style slaughters substance in 'Shrek,' 'Ocean's' sequels

As is the case with most sequels, "Shrek the Third" (Dreamworks, 2007, PG) is wholly unnecessary. But it does give the sense that its creators made some effort to avoid the smugness and time-sensitive pop-culture references that hampered its predecessor, fine-tuning the broad appeal of the franchise. Meanwhile, "Ocean's Thirteen" (Warner Bros., 2007, PG-13) had to overcome the burden of the franchise's wan second installment, and strictly on a plot basis the movie falls far short. Not surprisingly, watching a group of thieves plan the perfect heist and pull it off -- because it's perfect -- is less than compelling. But as an exercise in style Steven Soderbergh's piffle is a wonder to behold, in love with all the potential of cinema short of a solid script.

Also out this week

"Killer of Sheep" (New Yorker/Milestone, 1977, Not Rated): The incredible "Sheep" is one of those indie film touchstones that buffs and students revere while it goes unheard of by the public. Hopefully the DVD debut of Charles Burnett's masterpiece will change all that. Written and directed by Burnett and made for a fraction of a pittance, the movie is a milestone of African-American filmmaking, lauded with praise and awards wildly disproportionate to its audience.

"This is England" (IFC, 2006, Not Rated): The UK once was known for its "kitchen sink" dramas, bleak tales of working-class lives where happy endings were as foreign as sunny days. Writer/director Shane Meadows works in this milieu, and while his often-depressing films aren't for all occasions, they reveal an impressive feel for the British underclass. "This is England" captures the conflict between two groups of outcasts in Margaret Thatcher's England, an integrated gang of skinheads and their racist adversaries, with the future of an all-but-abandoned young boy in the balance.

"La Vie En Rose" (HBO, 2007, PG-13): If you blinked you likely missed last summer's excellent Edith Piaf biopic "La Vie En Rose," exactly the kind of movie that tends to get overshadowed by giant fighting robots. But the awards push is on, and anyone that missed this film the first time around would be well served seeking out the DVD, if only for the mesmerizing performance of Marion Cotillard as Piaf, the legendary French chanteuse and icon for the heartbroken.