‘Hellboy II’ showcases del Toro’s toolbox

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”

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Looking for yet another way of marketing his original creation, characters introduced way back in 1977 for the live-action “Star Wars,” George Lucas has turned to animation and the small screen. Here we have Anakin Skywalker (the future Darth Vader, voiced by Matt Lanter), mentoring a potential Jedi named Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) even as he tries to save the Galactic Republic from the Separatists and their droid armies. Boasting expressionistic animation, the film is held back mostly what turns out to be a cartoonish script. DVD, which is available in Blu-ray, includes commentary, making-of featurettes. (1:38; rated PG for brief language, momentary smoking, sci-fi action violence)

– By Dan Webster

“Love Songs”

French director Christophe Honoré pays homage to French cinema of the 1960s by having his characters – Ismael (Louis Garrel) and Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), who seek to rekindle their romance by forming a ménage-a-trois with Alice (Clotilde Hesme) – burst into song. “Whereas ‘Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ has become timeless in its depiction of romance, Love Songs strikes a strongly contemporary note in its calm acceptance of the fluidity of desire and emotion.” DVD includes interview with director Honoré, filmographies, theatrical trailer. (1:40; not rated)

– By Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

“The Perfect Holiday”

The romance between a struggling songwriter/retail-store Santa Claus (Morris Chestnut) and a divorced mother of three (Gabrielle Union) gets help from “Mrs. Christmas” (Queen Latifah). “(The script) hasn’t been written as much as stamped out like so many cheap Christmas knickknacks that will be on the clearance shelf come Dec. 26.” DVD includes commentary by director Lance Rivera, making-of featurettes. (1:36; rated PG for brief language and some suggestive humor)

– By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Also available: “Garbage Warrior,” “M-Squad – The Complete Series,” “Noelle,” “Opium: Diary of a Madwoman,” “Remembering Vietnam – The Wall at 25,” “This Christmas”