New Videos: 'Road To Perdition,' 'Tuck Everlasting'

'Road To Perdition' (R) Despite awarding it six Oscar nominations, Motion Picture Academy voters stumbled big by not giving more major nods to "Road to Perdition," a riveting gangster epic that grabs you at the throat and doesn't let go for its duration.

Tom Hanks stars as Michael Sullivan, a hit man who finds himself in a moral dilemma when his Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) witnesses a murder.

But explaining in delicate terms to Michael Jr. what dad does for a living is the least of Sullivan's problems: Sullivan's boss and father figure, John Rooney (Paul Newman), can't risk letting word of the murder to get out, so his he sends out a series of hits to tidy up any loose ends. Suddenly on the run, Sullivan and Michael Jr. form a newfound bond, but it comes at a high price.

While Hanks could fairly be labeled a "bad guy" for "Road to Perdition," his character is far more complex and yes, even heartfelt than the majority of villains you see in films today. Sure, his job requires pulling a trigger and vengeance is on the top of his agenda, but in the end, he's the lesser of the two evils. And while the only means to the end is a bloody one, it's the only thing Sullivan can do to give Michael Jr. the semblance of a normal life.

Even with Hanks' impeccable reputation as an actor, I can't help but think people questioned director Sam Mendes' choice of Hanks in the morally ambiguous role. It's a good thing the "American Beauty" filmmaker stuck to his guns, though, because, I can't think of too many other everyman actors that have the moxie to pull a roll like this off.

But for all of Hanks' experience, the actor that truly delivers the shivers in "Road to Perdition" is Newman. Like Hanks, he is brilliant in a morally complex role, and commands your attention the minute he steps on screen. I only hope that Newman doesn't decide to hang up his acting career anytime soon -- the movie world will be far less interesting without him.

Masterfully constructed by Mendes, "Road to Perdition" is made complete with convincing performances by Hoechlin, Jude Law as a ruthless hit man, and British film star Daniel Craig, who is frightening as Rooney's twisted, jealous son. It's one of the year's best movies.

DVD Features: Audio commentary by Mendes; HBO "Making Of" documentary; deleted scenes, and more. (DreamWorks Home Entertainment)

Also New:

'Tuck Everlasting' (PG) Alexis Bledel stars as Winnie Foster in the big screen adaptation of the contemporary children's literary classic, about a 15-year-old girl on the verge of womanhood who encounters the Tucks (William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Jonathan Jackson and Scott Bairstow), a mysterious family living sheltered in her family's woods.

Bledel and Jackson have great chemistry as the pair of teens struggling with the repercussions of their love for one another, and their performances measure up to the experience of Hurt Spacek and Ben Kingsley, who's on to the Tuck's secret. Parents should know in advance that the themes of death and immortality are explored, so you may end up taking questions from curious, younger minds afterwards. Amy Irving and Victor Garber ("Alias") co-star.

DVD Features: Commentary tracks with director Jay Russell, Bledel, Jackson and Bairstow, and Russell and screenwriter James Hart; "Lessons of Tuck, a viewing mode that couples the movie with chances to explore its themes with cast members and kids at the same time; a visit with book author Natalie Babbit, and more. (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)

'Spy Kids 2: Island Of Lost Dreams' (PG) While it doesn't measure up to 2001's whiz-bang original, imaginative filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids 2" is entertaining nonetheless. This time out, our sister and brother spy team Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa Vega and Darryl Sabara) encounter a mad genetic scientist (Steve Buscemi) on a mysterious island, and must stop him with a bratty sibling pair of rival "spy kids" (Matthew O'Leary and Emmy Osment).

Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino are back as Cortez parents Gregorio and Ingrid, and Richardo Montalban and Holland Taylor appear as Ingrid's dad and mom. The James Bond-like action will engage kids enough that they won't care about the movie's thin plotline. The gadgets and effects are bigger and better, plus boomers should love a scene with skeletal warriors a la "Jason and the Argonauts."

DVD Features: Commentary with Rodriguez; "lost" scenes; "Isle of Dreams" music video; Rodriguez's "10 Minute Film School"; behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' (PG) For the lack of better words, the romantic comedy-fable "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is the "biggest" surprise of the year and completely "engaging." Nia Vardalos wrote the Oscar-nominated script and stars as Toula, a 30-year-old woman held under the thumbs of her father's (Michael Constantine) and mother's (Lanie Kazan) strict cultural traditions, until she meets the very non-Greek Ian Miller, the man of her dreams. But her parents are only a small part of Toula's dilemma: she needs to convince her very large and boisterous Greek family that Ian is worth breaking a tradition for.

The film is chock-full of bubbly performances, and the comedy approaches the gut-busting, pants-peeing level. Get on your tuxedos and party dresses; this "Wedding" deserves a big fat toast.

DVD Features: Audio commentary with Vardalos, Corbett and director Joel Zwick, and more. (HBO Video)

'One Hour Photo' (R) Robin Williams easily turns in the most frightening performance of his career as Sy Parrish, a one-hour photo technician at a shopping mart who develops a strange fascination with a suburban family (Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan and Dylan Smith) by keeping extra sets of photos they bring in to get developed. What develops throughout the film, though, is an intense, if not disturbing at times, atmosphere that will stay with you long after the film ends. It's a great thriller that may make you want to go digital.

DVD Features: Audio commentary with Williams and writer-director Mark Romanek; Williams interview on "The Charlie Rose Show"; Cinemax "Making Of" featurette and Sundance Channel's "Anatomy of a Scene" featurette, and more.